Emirati fined Dh2.2m for embezzling public funds

A public employee, who was convicted of embezzling Dh2.2million he collected from the receipts of road tariffs but never handed over the cash to his employers, has been fined Dh2.2 million and jailed for three months. He has also been asked to pay back Dh2.2million he embezzled to the public department.

The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi upheld earlier rulings by lower courts that handed down the sentence to the Emirati man after he was found guilty of embezzling public funds.

Official court documents stated that the man who had been working with the department of public works in Al Dhaid since 2010, was in charge of issuing receipts for road tariffs imposed on lorries after collecting materials in the area.

Investigations revealed that the defendant had issued hundreds of receipts totalling Dh2.2 million, but didn't give the cash to the persons concerned in the public works department.

Officials said the Emirati instead used the money to buy luxurious vehicles, including two Tahoe vehicles for himself, a Range Rover for his wife and gold jewellery.

The Federal Court of First Instance in Sharjah had sentenced the Emirati to three years in jail and fined him Dh2.2 million after he was found guilty. The man was also ordered to pay back the amount he had embezzled. 

The Emirati challenged the ruling in the appeal court, which upheld the earlier verdict by the first instance court but reduced the jail sentence to three months. The appeal court also maintained the Dh2.2 million fine and Dh2.to be paid back to the public department.

The man then appealed to UAE's top court, which upheld the appeal court sentences.