A former Saks Fifth Avenue personal shopper in Boston's Back Bay has been accused of embezzling a hefty sum from the luxury retailer. Suhail Kwatra, known for dressing some of the city's most affluent individuals, allegedly carried out a fraud totaling over $429,000, primarily through processing fraudulent returns. According to NBC10 Boston, company asset protection officials discovered the suspicious transactions during an internal review.
Despite nearly two decades of employment as a personal shopper, Kwatra's actions have now led to charges of larceny. As reported by NBC10 Boston, the employee was purportedly observed transferring money from the returns onto gift cards, which he then used for personal purchases. In a period stretching from September to November, these transactions amounted to more than $11,000. When confronted, Kwatra provided a handwritten letter admitting to the misappropriation of the funds and signed a document agreeing to pay back the entire sum.
This scandal has led to his arraignment set for December 18. Kwatra's defense by his attorney, Jennifer Furey, suggests an alternative motive behind the charges. Furey's statement, obtained by NBC10 Boston, claims that "Saks launched these baseless and vindictive charges" as retaliation after Kwatra contemplated an offer from another global retailer and declined a retention bonus from Saks.
In a further twist, Furey has challenged the enforceability of the promissory note signed by Kwatra. Detailing Kwatra's contributions to Saks, Furey describes his role as successful, saying that his distribution of gift cards and other perks to clients were standard for business development and were not secretive, as mentioned in the Boston Globe. She asserts that the promissory note is "unenforceable" because it was signed "under duress" and that Kwatra was in no position to "seek legal advice" before signing.
Saks Fifth Avenue has maintained a low profile regarding the criminal complaint while imposing a no-trespass order against Kwatra. Amidst these serious allegations, the notable personal shopper remains resolute in clearing his name. "I am confident that when the legal process plays out, it will be shown that Saks retaliated against me for considering a global position with another large retailer," Kwatra told the Boston Globe. "My reputation is very important to me, and I trust that my many clients will continue to believe in me as I fight to clear my good name."
