The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has imposed a financial penalty on a former private banker.

It said today that Nikhil Das will pay a penalty of Dh73,400 ($20,000) and be restricted, for a period of six years, from performing any functions in, or in connection with, the provision of a financial service in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The announcement follows the conclusion of a DFSA investigation into the conduct of  Das when he was a former employee of a DFSA Authorised Firm.

“Between July 2012 and January 2013 Das executed two transactions, valued at Dh12,478,000 ($3.4 million) and Dh18,350,000 ($5 million) respectively, on behalf of a client without his consent,” the DFSA announcement said.

“Furthermore, Das forged the client’s signature on a number of documents and sent fraudulent letters and account statements, containing false and misleading information about his investments. The client did not suffer any financial loss as a consequence of Das’ fraudulent conduct and unauthorised investments,” it said.

Das co-operated fully with the DFSA’s investigation and acknowledged forging the client’s signature, executing unauthorised investments and providing the client with falsified documents, it added.

Das agreed to settle the DFSA’s concerns by making a settlement offer, in the form of an Enforceable Undertaking (EU), to comply with the sanctions.  

The EU requires Das to comply with all of its conditions. Should he fail to comply with any condition of the EU then the DFSA may seek to enforce that condition in the DIFC Courts, it said.

Ian Johnston, chief executive of the DFSA, said: “Consumers who rely on the advice and services of private bankers are entitled to expect high standards of conduct from them.  The DFSA expects private bankers who provide services in or from the DIFC to act ethically and with integrity.  Bankers who do not meet these minimum standards will have to answer to the DFSA.”  - TradeArabia News Service