Dubai expat returns from vacation, finds Dh1.3m missing from bank account

Dubai - An Indian businessman and his accomplice forged documents and got a SIM card replacement.

A 75-year-old Kuwaiti bank customer said he came back to the UAE from a trip on January 14, 2017 to find that his mobile line had been disconnected and that his bank account balance had been emptied, prompting him to file a criminal complaint.

Public prosecution records show that a 32-year-old businessman managed to embezzle Dh1.3 million from the account of the bank customer after he fraudulently used his mobile phone number that had been registered with the bank.

The Indian man has an accomplice, on the loose, who helped him apply and get a SIM card replacement in the name of the 75-year-old victim.

The pair used forged documents in the victim's name when applying for the SIM replacement card in his name at a shop.

They forged a power of attorney in the victim's name falsely claiming it was issued from Dubai Courts.

The wrongdoings of the defendant and his runaway accomplice happened between November 2016 and end of December 2016.

The defendant has been charged with forgery and fraud in the Court of First Instance.

The Kuwaiti trader said he came back to the UAE from a trip on January 14, 2017, and found that his number had been disconnected.

"When I checked with my telecom provider, I learned from them that my number had not been disconnected but another SIM card had been issued in my name as a loss replacement," the victim said.

"I went on the same day to check my account balance at a bank and I was shocked to hear that all the money in my account had been transferred to two accounts at two other banks. The money was transferred on several occasions between November 2016 and end of December 2016. The bank staff gave me a statement of the transfer transactions made. I filed a complaint at Al Qusais police station."

• Dubai