Unpaid worker robs person of determination

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A personal assistant who snatched the ATM card of a person of determination and drained his bank account for having delayed his salary landed in court on Monday.

The Asian defendant, 23, was working for the Emirati man, 50, when he disappeared with his ATM card on Feb.7. He used it to withdraw Dhs10,000 from his account, prosecutors told the Dubai Criminal Court.

He denied and argued that he was serving his employer and this included heading to ATMs to withdraw money for him. “I used the card upon his request. I withdrew the money and handed it to him,” he explained.

He entreated the jury to clear him. Prosecutors demanded he be awarded a severe punishment applicable over the crimes he committed. Jude Habib Amir deferred the verdict to June 27.

In police records, the victim narrated that he went to the bank at around 4.30pm on Feb.8 to withdraw money. He was astonished to learn that two cash withdrawal operations were conducted in his account on Feb.7.

“Dhs5,000 was withdrawn at 9.47am and Dhs5,000 more was withdrawn at 9.48am through an ATM,” complained the victim, adding that he realised it was the defendant who did so since he was his personal assistant.

The victim revealed he was suffering from chronic diseases that bound him to a wheelchair. “I brought the defendant three months ago to help me solve my personal needs, and take me to hospital on a semi-daily basis.

“He made use of his position to steal my ATM card and its passcode that I was keeping inside my car.

“He went on to withdraw money from my bank account,” said the victim, who filed a complaint at Al Qusais Police Station.

Before the police, the defendant acknowledged the incident but argued that the victim employed him and declined to pay him his salary. After working for three months without pay, he resolved to use the card and pay himself.