Ten people used forged documents to embezzle Dh1.5m from a local bank, Dubai Criminal Court was told on Monday.
The defendants include a Pakistani woman, seven Pakistani men and two Indian men — all aged between 23 and 41.
Prosecutors charged three members of the gang with forgery, use of forged documents and embezzlement while the remaining seven were charged with aiding and abetting.
Records show that the three main defendants forged credit card applications and submitted them to the bank which later issued the cards. The cards were used to withdraw a total of Dh1.5m.
"We received a complaint from a bank client who said that a credit card was issued under his name which he didn't apply for," said the bank's Emirati Internal Investigation department manager.
He said an internal investigation revealed that more than 70 credit card applications submitted to the bank contained altered documents.
"The man told us that he was approached by a bank's employee who offered him a loan then obtained his documents which were later forged and used to apply for a credit card," said the manager, who reported the incident to police.
The defendants were arrested and questioned. Prosecutors said they all admitted to charges during questioning, but in court on Monday, only one admitted to aiding and abetting.
The seven others denied all charges and two of the accused did not attend court.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 8.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
