2 in court for embezzling Dh500k from RAK charity

Ras al Khaimah - The suspects' defence lawyer requested adjournment of the case to prepare his pleading

Two men have stood trial at the Ras Al Khaimah Criminal Court over charges of embezzling Dh500,000 from a charity association.
The Court started hearing the testimonies of the two prosecution witnesses who told the court that the duo embezzled the money for failing to honour an agreement they concluded with a government entity; the charity society or give it back.
As per the prosecution indictment sheet, the first suspect, A.A., and the second, A.G., had embezzled Dh500,000 from a charity association here in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
"They have inked an agreement between the Charity Society and one of the institutions owned by the manager of the Association itself for carrying out some propaganda works for special needs people.
The Association defence lawyer told the court that the Society accountant discovered that the institution contracted failed to honour the agreement they concluded with the Association.
"They have not either given back the money they have already collected for doing the requested advertising project," he said.
A member of the Society board council said he was an active member in the association till 2010, and he had the legal power due to sign all the decisions issued by the Society.
He then challenged the prosecution's accusation against the Society manager and another staffer, affirming that they did not embezzle any money from the Association.
"The prosecution charges are baseless, null and void based on the fact that all board council members have the legal power due to take whatever decision they deep fit for both small and big enterprises, and not only the secretary general of the society."
Adding, he said that all the contracts concluded for running any of the Society projects are phrased by the board council.
"The second defendant had nothing to do with the entire issue as he was not authorized to formulate or execute any contract because there is a special committee of the society staffers entitled to follow up the execution it signed projects."
The suspects' defence lawyer requested adjournment of the case to prepare his pleading, and his requested has been approved by the RAK criminal court hearing the case.

- ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah