Court Orders Dh3.2 Million Payout After Gold Embezzlement Case Finalised

A Dubai civil court has ordered an Asian man to pay Dh3.2 million to two business partners after he was criminally convicted of embezzling 15kg of 24-karat gold entrusted to him. The ruling also includes 5 per cent annual legal interest, court fees, and attorney costs.

The case began in early 2024 when the partners filed a police complaint accusing the defendant of taking gold worth approximately Dh3.5 million without authorisation. Public Prosecution investigations led to charges of embezzlement of entrusted property and causing financial harm.

The Dubai Criminal Court sentenced the defendant to six months in jail, fined him the value of the stolen gold, and ordered his deportation. His appeals to both the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation were dismissed, rendering the verdict final.

After the criminal judgment, the partners filed a civil claim seeking Dh4.5 million in compensation. This included Dh3.2 million as the assessed value of the gold and an additional Dh1 million for material and moral damages, citing financial losses, missed investment opportunities, and legal costs incurred during the lengthy proceedings.

In its assessment, the civil court confirmed that liability for a harmful act requires proof of the act, proof of resulting harm, and a direct causal link. It relied on the final criminal ruling to establish the defendant’s responsibility for the embezzlement.

The court further found that the defendant had caused both direct financial losses and moral damage by violating the plaintiffs’ property rights and compelling them to undertake extended legal action. It therefore ordered him to pay Dh3.2 million plus 5 per cent annual legal interest from the date the judgment became final until full settlement.

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