By Rajive Singh
RAS AL KHAIMAH: In a bid to enforce its pivotal role in doing away with corruption hotbeds, the Department of Public Prosecution, over the past two years, initiated an investigation into a number of offences of fraud committed against public funds and misfeasance in public office, in addition to other related crimes, Hassan Saeed Mhimed, Attorney-General of the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK), said in a statement.
”The investigations follow legal complaints filed against Dr Khater Massaad, Karam Al Sadeq and others, accusing them of fraud, wilful damage to public entities and unjust enrichment therefrom, which took place during their tenure as public officials with the Government of Ras Al Khaimah.
“Pursuant to that, the Department of Public Prosecution ordered the arrest and detention of those accused who had absconded, and undertook legal measures against those outside the UAE jurisdiction so that they can be brought back through legal means to be tried in the UAE for the crimes which they had committed. The accused stood trial and final judgements have been given against some, whilst others have been convicted in their absence,” the Attorney-General said.
New Evidence
He had also tasked the Public Funds section of the Department of Public Prosecution to undertake a broad investigation into the tenure of the accused as public officials. The investigation has yielded new evidence implicating the aforementioned accused and others for other offences, abusing the positions they held to defraud the public purse.
Among those involved were previous business partners of the accused in ventures, which were based in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and elsewhere, including nationals of the USA and other countries.
“The Department of Public Prosecution will not spare any effort in ensuring that the accused are brought to justice, using all available legal means to ensure they appear before the courts of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah,” he added.
The Department of Public Prosecution emphasised that it would strenuously pursue all those who were involved in the commission of the aforementioned offences, and ensure that they were punished for their crimes in accordance with the international standards of justice and impartiality that reinforce the principles of justice and the rule of law.