DUBAI // A bank employee has denied issuing an ATM card in a client's name and using it to illegally withdraw Dh126,000 from his account. The defendant, FM, a 29-year-old Emirati woman, worked as a customer relations executive at the bank. She is charged with committing forgery in an electronic bank document and abusing her access to the bank's electronic network. The client, KJ, approached the bank's manager on August 6 last year to complain of unusual activity in his account. The manager said that KJ had noticed Dh5,000 was being withdrawn from his account without his knowledge almost daily since June 24, 2007. KJ told the manager that when he tried to withdraw cash with his ATM card his transaction was declined. He then found his card had been cancelled.
MY, an employee at the bank, told prosecutors the defendant had approached him and asked him to cancel KJ's card. He said FM issued a handwritten note signed by her that confirmed the card's cancellation, then issued another note requesting a replacement card. MY said he sent FM the application for a new card electronically and she approved it. The case, heard at Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, was adjourned until November 10.
hbathish@thenational.ae
