Dubai: A policeman has been accused of requesting a visitor to pay him Dh3,000 in bribe in order not to fine him for blocking traffic flow at Jumeirah Beach Residence at 4.45am.

The 30-year-old policeman, Y.Y., was said to have seized the Saudi visitor’s driving license and car registration to ensure that he would call him later and pay the bribe on January 19.

Dubai police later arrested the defendant in a sting operation.

Prosecutors said the policeman abused his duty at the police force and sought bribe from the visitor, F.A., in order not to fine him for committing a list of traffic offences.

The Saudi visitor testified to prosecutors that the policeman negotiated the bribe’s value after claiming that his violations totalled Dh10,000.

“He asked me to pull over to the right side because I had stopped my car as a double-parking to chat with friends. The policeman claimed that I had blocked the traffic flow and drove someone else’s vehicle and committed other offences. He said the violations were worth Dh10,000 and that the vehicle would have to be impounded for 30 days. Then he asked me to pay him money against helping me,” claimed the Saudi.

The defendant failed to show up before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday when he was scheduled to enter a plea.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal adjourned the case and the suspect will be sentenced in absentia on April 15.

Prosecutors said the defendant asked for bribe at Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).

A police lieutenant testified that the Saudi called Dubai Police’s Operation Room to complain that a policeman had asked him for a bribe.

“The claimant said he parked his car in a double lane when he stopped to see his friends at JBR’s main road. The suspect came from the back and asked the Saudi to move his car to the right side of the road. He claimed that the policeman told him that he committed traffic violations that amounted to Dh10,000. The Saudi claimed that he begged the policeman not to book him because it was his father’s car and he was travelling the same day… the policeman then said he could help him. The claimant alleged that the suspect requested Dh5,000 before he settled for Dh3,000,” claimed the lieutenant.

Prosecution records said the Saudi cooperated with Dubai police that arrested the defendant in a sting operation immediately after he collected the money in front of Dragon Mart.