Man forges documents, siphons off Dh2.8m from customer's bank account in Dubai

Dubai - The 29-year-old allegedly embezzled the money after misusing online banking in the victim's name.

An Indian man disappeared after siphoning off Dh2.8 million from the bank account of a Canadian customer. The 29-year-old allegedly embezzled the money after misusing online banking in the victim's name, the Dubai Court of First Instance has heard.
According to public prosecution records, the runaway salesman forged a document, in which he falsely claimed that an American resident had ceded his mobile line - linked to the victim's banking transactions - to a company in the Free Zone which was being run by the Indian man.
The latter also misused a forged Emirates ID copy in the name of the American resident.
He seized the opportunity that the real account holder (the Canadian) was outside the UAE and got a replacement SIM card to carry out online banking in his name, by impersonating him.
He has been charged in absentia with fraud, embezzlement, fraudulently availing of telecommunication services and forgery.
A Bangladeshi runaway businessman, 51, is accused in absentia of aiding and abetting in the fraud by revealing the number of the account of the company he owned so to transfer the misappropriated money (stolen from the Canadian victim) to it.
A 45-year-old Indian man - who has been detained - is accused of criminal complicity as he possessed Dh1.6 million of the stolen cash while aware of its illegal source.
The case dates back to June last year. It was registered at Al Rafaa police station.
The case was exposed by a Lebanese-American manager who was taking care of the victim's account as the latter resides outside the country.
"He asked me in 2015 to handle his account as he is not a resident. On July 8, 2018, I was notified by the victim that his funds deposited at the bank were lost."
The court will hear the case again on July 7.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai