Dubai expat steals Dh1.4 million worth of phones

A saleswoman is standing trial in Dubai on multiple charges, including fraud and theft of over Dh1.4 million worth of phone services.

Working at a company linked with a telecom operator, the 31-year-old Pakistani expat allegedly took 496 smartphones after filing 496 SIM card applications for bogus customers, the Dubai Court of First Instance heard.

Financial irregularities ran from January 1, 2014, to September 6, 2015, and were reported to Al Barsha police station.

The employee who worked at a private firm was in charge of recruiting staff for the telecom firm under a contract, according to public prosecution records.

"She had abused her post and the power given to her to access the e-system (of the telecom company) and entered fake data. Hence, she unlawfully availed of the smartphones in bogus sale transactions," a Lebanese legal consultant for the telecom operator told the public prosecution investigator. The woman was charged with fraud, forgery and theft from the workplace.

The transactions she reportedly made lacked any documents that could prove the existence of the customers, the consultant added. A report with all the details of the alleged embezzlement has been put together for the case.

The trial will continue on March 1.