Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Criminal Court started the trial of 19 people of different nationalities, on charges of embezzling Dhs183.66 million from a law firm. The Dubai Public Prosecution previously referred the suspects to the Court on charges of forging official documents and using them to establish 4 administrative and legal consultancy firms in several countries to seize the funds of the office they worked for.

The case dates back to 2017, when the owner of a Gulf law firm discovered that the suspects forged the final statement of profits and other documents.

The owner accused the office manager and others of forging these documents and establishing legal consultancy offices in four countries, with the aim of fraudulently seizing money of the office from its clients.

The Dubai Public Prosecution levelled seven charges against the defendants including embezzlement of Dhs183.66 million owned by the law office.

The Prosecution also charged the prime suspect with leaking the data of clients and trademark owners who dealt with the law firm for the benefit of companies which he established with his wife and other defendants in Sharjah and Dubai free zones and four cities around the world.

Earlier, the Sharjah Appeal Court upheld a preliminary ruling issued by the Criminal Court to sentence three employees, who were working for the same law firm, to three years in absentia and a fourth suspect to 6 months to be followed by deportation.

The suspects were also obligated to pay the incurred judicial fees.