Two civic inspectors jailed for bribery
Two inspectors at Dubai Municipality jailed for asking Dh350,000 in bribes from a businessman
Dubai: Two inspectors at Dubai Municipality have been jailed for three years each for seeking Dh350,000 in bribes from a businessman.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the two defendants, an Egyptian inspector, A.F., 37, and an Emirati chief inspector, W.A., 27, of abusing their office and demanding a bribe. Pronouncing the judgment on Monday, Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad fined the two defendants Dh350,000.
Prosecutors said 37-year-old A.F. and 27-year-old W.A. abused their authority and requested bribe from the Indian businessman, who had invested his money in the 16 villas.
"That did not happen. I am innocent," A.F. argued in court. W.A. also pleaded not guilty and contended that he had not demanded a bribe.
Presiding Judge Abdul Jawad said A.F. would be deported following the completion of his jail term.
According to court records, the inspector and chief inspector had asked the Indian, H.D., 58, to pay up Dh350,000 to prevent them from cutting off the power supply in his villa compound.
Prosecutors said H.D. owned the villa compound which was rented out in portions. The businessman said A.F. fined him for seven villas in the compound, each of which was occupied by more than one family.
"When I went to the compound to check what had happened, A.F. referred me to W.A. I met the latter in his office and he promised to call me later. A.F. levied five more fines the next day and asked me to discuss the matter with W.A. A.F. was busy and couldn't meet me. W.A. later threatened me, saying that I had to pay Dh350,000 to settle the problem or the power supply would be disconnected. A.F. told me later that each fine costs Dh50,000. A.M. imposed three new fines later," H.D. told prosecutors.
Police arrested the defendants in a sting operation, where they were caught red-handed accepting the bribe. Police had bugged H.D.'s phone and recorded the conversation between him and the suspects regarding the bribe. The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
