Clerk in Dubai took Dh420,000 to forge insurance letters, officials say

He is accused of telling business operators he could get them required documentation in exchange for 'bank fees.'

DUBAI // A 28-year-old clerk this morning admitted to forging bank insurance letters for seven tourism and travel companies, but denied doing the same for other 14 companies.
The Egyptian JN told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance he could not have defrauded 21 companies without being caught.
According to prosecutors, JN deceived the managers of these companies, telling them that he had strong relations with the management of Baroda Bank and could help them get insurance letters to renew their operating licences, records show.
Records show 21 such incidents between 2008 and 2009, with JN taking Dh20,000 from each company and claiming it was for bank fees.
JN faces 84 charges of forging an unofficial document, using the forged documents, deceiving an unaware public employee, and unlawfully obtaining money.
BG, a 28-year-old Syrian man, told prosecutors that JN told his wife, who owned Golden Knight Travel Agency, he could get her an insurance letter, required by the Government since 2006.
He said a few days after their meeting, JN gave him the letters, which he submitted to the Tourism Department and to renew his wife's company's licence. He said he paid Dh20,000 for the service.
BG testified that three months after he got the licence, the department called him and told him the letter had been forged.
JN asked for the court's mercy in response to his guilty pleas.
A verdict is expected on June 16.
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