Nakheel bribery verdict postponed for two weeks

Project manager is accused of taking bribes from contractors after awarding them contracts.

DUBAI // A Nakheel project manager accused of accepting bribes from contractors will learn his fate in two weeks, a court ruled today.
IK, 41, from Jordan was charged in the Criminal Court of First Instance with taking bribes while working as a public official.
Prosecutors told the court that IK flaunted the flashy cars purchased for him, which led to a Dubai World Anti Fraud administration investigation. IK has denied the charges.
He is accused of asking a contractor to purchase for him a new Audi A8 in September 2008 while he was the project manager of the Jumeirah Circle. The car, prosecutors say, is worth Dh350,000.
The director of the Dubai World Anti Fraud administration, Abdullah Abdullah, 55, told prosecutors that the agency's inquiry revealed that IK owned a new Cadillac Escalade worth Dh300,000, the Audi A8 and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
A contractor presented documents showing that his company purchased the Audi and handed gave it to IK after he awarded them a Dh110 million contract, Mr Abdullah said.
During the internal investigation, IK was ordered to hand over the car to the company per the Dubai World internal policies regarding gifts and was asked to transfer ownership to Dubai World.
Mr Abdullah said IK did not return spare keys and refused to transfer the car. After two months, he added, IK took the car back from where it was being held.
Judge Hamad Abdel Latif postponed judgement until January 23.
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