DUBAI – Prosecutors are pushing to have executives of state-owned companies tried as public officials, which could see them face much harsher sentences in the future, UAE daily the National reported on Wednesday.Prosecutors in the case of the ex-Sama Dubai CEO are appealing against his acquittal on the grounds that he should have been tried as a public official, which would have required commissions be approved by the company, the newspaper reported.
The Emirati, identified only A.M., was acquitted in July of breach of duty and requesting five apartments worth 2.7 million dirhams ($734.3 million) and 200,000 dirhams in cash from a company client, the paper said.
There are no laws against private company employees taking unsanctioned commissions, the paper added.
Prosecutors argued A.M. should have been treated as a public official because Sama Dubai, part of Dubai Holding, is owned and funded by the Dubai government, the paper reported.
The case was adjourned until Nov. 17.