The Dubai Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of 18 individuals of various nationalities in a high-profile fraud case involving embezzlement, money laundering, and data theft from a law firm, with stolen funds amounting to nearly Dhs185 million.
According to a Gulf Today report, the court affirmed an earlier ruling that found the group guilty of creating a network to siphon off funds from a Dubai-based law firm between 2014 and 2020. Investigations showed that the group forged documents and used a fake email address to impersonate the firm, stealing sensitive client data and using it to set up fake companies in the UAE and abroad.
Authorities confirmed that three companies were set up to launder the stolen funds, with over Dhs185 million flowing through multiple accounts to mask the money trail. Forensic reports revealed the use of advanced software to hack into the law firm’s systems, delete original files, and mislead clients through fraudulent emails.
Four of the accused were sentenced to three years in prison followed by deportation, while the remaining defendants received one-year jail terms and deportation. Two were fined Dhs20,000, and four were acquitted due to lack of evidence. The court also ordered the confiscation of Dhs113.65 million and imposed fines of Dhs500,000 on each of the three companies involved.
The case began after the law firm’s owner reported suspicious activities involving a former manager and employees, prompting a deeper investigation. Authorities later traced extensive financial transfers and manipulation of commercial data aimed at deceiving clients and diverting payments into personal accounts.
In a related case, one of the main suspects was acquitted of breach of trust due to insufficient evidence. However, the appellate court reaffirmed the convictions in the primary case, concluding the group’s role in a coordinated and large-scale financial crime.