Man admits stealing Dh1.2m from office

A worker yesterday admitted in court that he stole Dh1.2 million in cash from his workplace in collaboration with three others who denied any involvement in the heist.Prosecutors charged 23-year-old D.A, with stealing the cash from a drawer belonging to an accountant at the electronics company where he worked.Three others were also charged with helping D.A. plot and carry out the theft.A 34-year-old Turkish man was charged with possessing Dh35,000 of the stolen money."Yes sir I am guilty. I stole the money," said D.A. when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday. The others, aged between 25 and 30, refuted their charges and pleaded innocent when they defended themselves before Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout.According to the charge sheet, prosecutors accused D.A. of theft. The three others were charged with aiding and abetting D.A, while 34-year-old A.S was charged with collecting Dh35,000 from the S.K.An Emirati second lieutenant in Dubai Police testified that the heist happened in Souq Murshed in Naif.The company's accountant claimed that he left the money inside his drawer and went up to the second floor to have lunch. The accountant left the drawer unlocked. D.A. and three other employees were present in the office. D.A. abused the fact that the employees were busy and took the money from the drawer and walked out, it was heard."The accountant alleged during questioning that one of the company's clerks spotted D.A. walking out, carrying a black bag in his hands. The latter alleged that he was heading to meet his uncle in a nearby bank," the second lieutenant claimed.Prosecution records showed D.A. disappeared suddenly, stopped going to work and his mobile phone remained switched off.The company's accountant told prosecutors he puts between Dh15 million and Dh20 million in his drawer daily. "D.A. spotted me putting the Dh1.2 million in the drawer… when I went up for lunch, he stole the money and absconded," he said.The court was adjourned until November 13.