Top company official jailed for a year for embezzling BD240

TDT | Manama                   

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com  

A top official has been jailed for a year for embezzling funds from his company by forging receipts for renewing its advertising licence.

The First High Criminal Court said the suspect committed the crime while working as a Director of Communications at the company.

He was authorised to renew the licences owned by his company for advertisement sign boards on public roads under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning.

The ministry was charging the company BD80 for renting a signboard. Court files say the suspect used an old receipt after changing its dates and figures instead of renewing the licence. He then filed it to the company and pocketed the money.

This way, the man forged three receipts to pocket BD240. However, the fraud came to light when the company officials found that the ministry had removed their signboards, citing non-payment of fees.

This prompted the officials to approach the ministry with the receipts filed by the director, only to find that all of them were fake. Based on the finding, the company filed a case against the suspect. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to the crime, and officials referred him to the Public Prosecution. Cops also retrieved the stolen amount from the suspect.