Former Hadeed Motors Clerk Convicted in Second Major Fraud Case

A long-serving employee of Hadeed Motors has been found guilty of six fraud-related offences after a scheme that involved stealing and illegally selling an SUV by using doctored company records.

Dylan Simon, who worked at the dealership as a clerk and sales representative from 1998 until 2020, was convicted by Justice Stanley John on charges including electronic forgery, forgery, uttering, larceny by a clerk, obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering. He has been remanded and will return to court for sentencing on December 11.

This ruling marks the second time Simon has been convicted for similar wrongdoing. In 2023, he was fined $100,000 for electronic forgery in a separate case involving another vehicle at the same company.

How the Scheme Unfolded

The latest conviction stems from events in early 2020, when Simon manipulated internal systems to make it appear that a Suzuki Vitara had been legitimately purchased.

Prosecutors told the court he entered false information indicating a female customer had paid for the SUV using a non-existent cheque.

He then issued an entry-exit form, which allowed the vehicle to leave the compound without any payment being made. Simon later presented the forged document to a security guard, enabling the SUV to be removed.

Evidence also showed he collected a $600 commission by claiming he had completed a legitimate sale.

Vehicle Sold and Profits Laundered

The Vitara, stolen on January 3, 2020, was sold roughly six months later to a used-car dealer for $55,000. Simon reportedly received another vehicle valued at $22,000 and $23,000 in cash as part of the exchange.

Audit Exposes Discrepancies

Hadeed Motors discovered the irregularities in May 2020 after reopening from the COVID-19 lockdown and conducting an internal audit. Investigators found multiple questionable transactions linked to Simon, including the misuse of a cheque issued by Finance and Development Company for three customers that exceeded $170,000.

Simon allegedly recorded the payment for only two individuals and inserted fake cheque numbers to balance the system.

When summoned to explain the discrepancies, Simon offered no response and resigned shortly afterward. A day later, he reportedly went to the Transport Board to transfer ownership of the stolen vehicle from the falsified buyer to the used-car dealer.

Defence Falls Apart

Simon claimed that other employees had access to his computer and that the SUV was paid for in cash. However, he could not account for the fictitious cheque entries. He also alleged that Hadeed Motors had framed him to avoid paying outstanding back pay.

His defence further unravelled when an auditor he called as a witness submitted a report concluding that Simon was responsible for manipulating cheque records and exploiting weak internal controls to facilitate multiple vehicle thefts.

Prosecution’s Argument Prevails

Despite no direct proof that Simon personally entered the fraudulent data, prosecutors argued that he was the clear beneficiary of the scheme. Justice John agreed, leading to the six-count conviction.

Simon remains in custody as he awaits sentencing.