Dubai Female Accountant Imprisoned for Embezzling Dh1.47M from Employer

A Dubai accountant has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined Dh1.47 million after being convicted of embezzling funds from her employer and forging accounting documents to conceal the transactions.

 

The Dubai Criminal Court also ordered her deportation and confiscated the forged documents. In a separate civil case, the Dubai Civil Court ordered her to pay Dh2 million in compensation to the company, along with 5% annual legal interest from the date the judgment becomes final until full payment.

 

The case began after the company discovered financial irregularities involving its accountant. It filed a civil lawsuit seeking Dh3,426,449, plus legal interest, after an audit revealed transfers from the company's bank account to accounts held by the employee.

 

According to the findings, approximately Dh2.95 million was transferred between January 2017 and August 2019 on the stated basis that the money would be used to cover company expenses.

 

However, a forensic accounting examination found that Dh1.475 million could not be accounted for because there were no supporting documents proving that the money had been properly disbursed.

 

The investigation also uncovered repeated entries of payment amounts and accounting adjustments that were allegedly used to conceal discrepancies in the company's financial records.

 

The forensic report identified further violations. These included the establishment of another company while she was employed by the plaintiff without the employer's consent, holding a management position in a third company and allegedly colluding with an accounting firm to conceal the financial manipulation.

 

The Public Prosecution subsequently referred the accountant to court on charges of embezzling Dh1.475 million, forging unofficial documents and using the forged documents.

 

The Criminal Court sentenced her in absentia to one year in prison, ordered the confiscation of the forged documents, imposed a fine equivalent to the amount involved in the crime and ordered her deportation from the UAE. The civil claim was referred to the competent court.

 

In the subsequent civil proceedings, the court relied on the final criminal judgment, the evidence gathered during the investigation and the findings of the expert report in establishing the accountant's liability.

 

The court found that the company had suffered financial losses after its funds were taken and it was deprived of their use. It also recognised the company's entitlement to compensation for the resulting moral damages.

 

The Civil Court therefore ordered the accountant to pay Dh2 million to the company as compensation for the total damages suffered. The award was subject to 5% annual legal interest from the date the judgment becomes final until the amount is paid in full. She was also ordered to bear the court fees, costs and legal fees.

 

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