The Dubai Criminal Court adjourned Nakheel’s bribe case until September 20 following requests from the defence lawyers to hear testimonies of witnesses.

The defence lawyers  have requested the court to hear the testimony of the affirmation witnesses specifically the expert Mohammed Saif Mohammed Ahmad who prepared the auditing report. He also asked to her policeman Hassan Rashid.

The defence lawyer of the third accused also requested the court to hear the testimony of policeman Abdul Aziz Al Asli, Ahmad Younes, and Hassan Rashid.

The Court requested the Prosecution to notify the requested witness to attend the next hearing together with the 6 accused.

In the bribe case four employees from Nakheel, an arm of Dubai World, identified as AAA, Emirati, 35, Marketing manager, RSS, Indian, 39, stores manager, JRN, Indian (woman), 56, marketing administrator, OMA, Pakistani, 27, administrator were accused of asking for bribe, criminal participation and forging documents.

AKK, 53, Emirati trader and AMJ, 38, Lebanese assistant director at Ghubash Trading were accused with criminal participation on the based that they helped public employees to intentionally harm Nakheel’s interests.

The case is related to a deal for buying pens from Ghubash Trading.

As per Nakheel’s rules a tender should be announced and then awarded to the best bidder.

In the deal subject of the case this did not happen. The pens were directly purchased from Ghubash Trading.

AAA, was accused of asking Dh250,000 a bribe for passing the deal without a tender.

As well, he and the rest employees involved in the case were accused of issuing two official documents from Nakhee’s marketing department to cover up and show a legal status of the deal.

Ghubash Trading’s two employees were accused of accepting false documents used to cover up the illegality of the deal.

An unidentified person has sent a letter notifying about employees embezzling public money.

Investigating the tip off, the Auditor of Dubai World found out that the commercial department has issued dispense orders totaling Dh630,00, but there were not any receiving orders against them nor any bid.

The auditor also found out that these dispense orders have been claimed only after one week from preparing invoices, whereas as per the rule, value of deals should be dispensed after 45 days from executing it.

JRN told the auditor that RSS and OMA have assigned her to do that to cover up violations been committed by AAA.

The auditor reported that AAA has violated the company’s rules by failing to announce the purchase for bidding, and by dispensed 100 per cent  of the deal whereas the rule states just 50 per cent.

As well, AAA is authorised only to dispense in the range of Dh50,000 only.  A technical report was submitted to the court about finding two forged letters on JRN’s computer. As well, the court was supplied with a report about Ghubash Trading’s deal.