DUBAI // A Sri Lankan who fled the country after stealing money from his company and then returned with a new identity was sentenced to three months in jail on Thursday.
Dubai Criminal Court heard that S W, 38, left the UAE on June 3, 2014, the day after he stole Dh3,600 from his employer, Oxygen Life trading company.
He then returned under a different passport and name.
Colleague A S said she had called S W that morning after arriving at the office at 8.45am.
“He didn’t pick up and I looked for him in the offices but he wasn’t there. I got suspicious and checked my drawer where I kept the cash and found it missing.”
She also noticed that the S W’s passport was missing from her manager’s drawer.
There were no signs of a break-in and she was the only one with a key for the office, something she had given to the defendant when she went on leave.
“The manager had given me the cash so I could pay bills and other costs,” A S said.
She noted that the defendant was constantly complaining about his salary.
Prosecutors also produced footage showing the defendant as he entered the manager’s office.
The camera caught him opening a drawer and then picking up something before moving out of the shot.
Last month, S W denied a theft charge in court but was convicted. He will be deported after serving his three-month sentence.
salamir@thenational.ae
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
