Man stole 40 iPhones using forged documents and racked up Dh145,000 bill, Dubai court hears

Pakistani was aided by his roommate friend who worked at a bank and acquired passport copies and salary certificates that were used to set up mobile accounts for nine people without their knowledge.

DUBAI // A man is accused of forging documents with the help of his roommate to set up nine false mobile phone lines so he could embezzle 40 iPhones that he then sold on the internet. Prosecutors at Dubai Criminal Court said that Pakistani AK, 27, was a sales agent at an electronics company in charge of processing payments and requests from Etisalat customers.

In May last year they allege he forged the documents and used them to set up accounts for customers without their knowledge by using salary certificates, passports and ID copies supplied by his countryman and roommate MF, which he acquired from the bank where he worked.

Egyptian electronics manager IB, 41, said the defendant embezzled 40 iPhones and used the mobile lines to accrue internet data charges of Dh145,788.

“When we interrogated him, he told us that he did it and sold the handsets online and pocketed the money,” said the manager.

Policeman BM, 40, told prosecutors that the defendant admitted selling more than 30 phones. “AK told us that he received Dh21,000 from the sale of the phones, while his roommate MF received Dh25,000 for his share,” said the officer.

The defendant told prosecutors: “I wired the money I got from selling the mobiles to Pakistan.”

The roommate was not charged and court records did not state why.

AK appeared in court but did not enter a plea for the charges of forgery, using forged documents and embezzlement of 40 mobile phones and accruing charges of Dh145,788.

The next hearing is on June 14.