LAWYERS of an accountant, on trial for asking BD100,000 to return official documents and stamps, have sought his release from custody as he is suffering from various illnesses.
Medical reports state that the 61-year-old man had previously suffered two heart attacks and a stroke, and has diabetes and hypertension.
The defendant is also reportedly immunocompromised, has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, and is currently taking an assortment of prescribed medications.
The Egyptian accountant, who specialised in taxation and zakat, appeared for the first time before the High Criminal Court yesterday where he denied charges of embezzlement.
According to court documents, he had been appointed by the High Civil Court in 2017 to help settle a company’s dues and outstanding payments.
After being given supplies and stationery belonging to the company in order for him to fulfil his duties, he allegedly refused to return them when his association with the company ended.
He allegedly went on to ask one of the company’s previous owners for a BD100,000 pay-off in order to give the items back, but was caught red-handed by police receiving the ransom money during a sting operation.
In 2020, the High Civil Court dismissed him from his role after suspicions arose about his alleged corrupt dealings.
Prosecutors said that the company had filed a complaint to the General Directorate of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security, which launched an investigation into the matter.
“The prosecution granted a warrant to authorities to monitor the defendant’s phone calls, which proved that he kept the documents in his place of residence, and that he asked for BD100,000 to return them,” the statement read.
Prosecutors collected testimonies from witnesses in the case, arrested the suspect and interrogated him.
It added that he was recorded receiving the ransom money by both video and audio. A search of his home later revealed that he was in possession of the stolen papers, documents and stamps.
The trial was adjourned to August 22 for defence arguments.
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