ABU DHABI // A former employee of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed's court who was accused of embezzlement was sentenced to pay a total of Dh1.2 million by a criminal court yesterday.
He was also given a suspended six-month jail term.
HA, an Emirati, was initially charged with embezzling more than Dh3m, which he denied. He argued that the money consisted of his salary for a year and a half, a Dh600,000 car and travel allowances for two trips in the region as he was head of the Media and Cultural Centre for the President's Representative for nearly a year and a half.
HA said he tried to return the car but was refused.
Chief Justice Sayed AbdulBaseer, head of the Criminal Court of First Instance, ordered the man to return more than Dh600,000 and pay an equal amount as a fine for embezzling.
