DUBAI// A Dubai Fishermen’s Society employee has appeared in court accused of fraudulently obtaining 910 kilograms of shrimp from his workplace.
The Dubai Criminal Court heard that between March 1 and September 26 last year Egyptian S J, 43, who works as a representative and a warehouse supervisor, allegedly received purchase orders for 68 boxes of shrimp and Dh76,000, the price of the seafood.
Instead of delivering the shrimp to the buyers, he took them for himself and also took the cash.
S J was also charged with using a weapon to break open the door to the fishermen’s society warehouse and stealing another 23 boxes of shrimp valued at Dh16,215.
Prosecutors said that the defendant had been taking the shrimp and selling them for different people.
“He had been working for the society for six years. On September 26 last year, I was informed by employees that the door to the warehouse was found broken and boxes of shrimp were missing,” testified K A, 42, Emirati manager of the society.
An internal investigation lead to the defendant, said K A, adding that it was also revealed the defendant had taken part in several other thefts previously unknown to staff at the society.
“He confessed to carrying out all the thefts,” said K A.
Records show that the defendant provided a written confession in which he said he had offered to repay the cost of the stolen shrimp back to the society.
The defendant was not present in court to enter a plea against charges of theft. The next hearing will be on March 11 to summon him.
salamir@thenational.ae