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29 March 2024

Audit expert cross-examined

Audit expert cross-examined. (EB FILE)

Published
By Mohammed Elsidafy

In a hearing into a corruption case involving Mizin Properties, the defence subjected prosecution witness, audit expert Mohammed Mustafa Hussein, to a marathon four-hour cross-examination at the Dubai Criminal Court yesterday.

Hussein, who is attached to the audit and accounts department of the Dubai Ruler's Court, has compiled a detailed audit report into the case.

The defendants, SH, Mizin's former CEO, and JH, a Lebanese businessman, attended yesterday's hearing. They have been released after they furnished financial guarantees and their passports were impounded. Also attending were lawyers Khalid Al Hamrani and Ahmed Al Louz on behalf of Mizin, and Ali Al Shamsi representing JH and Sameer Jaafar representing SH. Yesterday's hearing was entirely devoted to Al Shamsi's questioning of Hussein.

The court adjourned the case until March 9 when JH's lawyer Al Shamsi will get a chance to question Hussein. The court also assigned Hussein to submit translated copies of two audit reports. The first is related to Mizin's transactions pertaining to the case, while the second was issued by global accounting firm, KPMG, after it was assigned by Tatweer, to which Mizin belongs, to do so. KPMG's report also relates to the same transactions.

The court permitted the defence to obtain a copy of the instructions and policies issued by Tatweer to Mizin regarding the selling prices of land and buildings.

The Public Prosecution has accused SH of accepting illegal gifts, harming Mizin's interests, and facilitating the transfer of company funds to another person illegally. JH is accused of offering illegal gifts to SH, obtaining unauthorised discounts on properties through illegal pacts, and harming Mizin's interests through such deals.

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