Dubai: A policeman has been jailed for three years for accepting bribe to help a businessman escape from a detention centre.

The Emirati businessman, 35, has also been jailed for three years for paying Dh5,000 in bribe to the policeman, 27, who helped him sneak out from the police detention centre in October.

The policeman had parked his car in the parking lot behind the police station to make it easier for the businessman to drive away in his tinted car without being noticed.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the policeman of taking bribe and aiding a detainee to abscond from custody.

The Emirati businessman was convicted of bribing a law officer to help him escape from the detention centre in Bur Dubai.

According to Sunday’s ruling, presiding judge Shaikha Hamad also fined the policeman Dh5,000.

“The accused [policeman] will be sacked from the police force,” said the judge.

The policeman, who is from Comoros Islands, will be deported following the completion of his punishment.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty.

Records said an unidentified woman deposited Dh5,000 as bribe in the bank account of the policeman to help the businessman escape from the detention centre where he was detained for involving a forgery and fraud case at Dubai Courts.

An investigating officer said the policeman was arrested at 7am for being responsible for the Emirati’s escape from detention.

“The businessman admitted that one of his friends deposited money into the policeman’s account the day before he escaped. He said he had agreed with the policeman to bribe him and allow him to escape for a few hours to go and see his wife and children and then return to detention. The accused said the policeman gave him his car keys and mobile phone. Interrogations revealed that the policeman had plotted in advance to assist the businessman escape from detention since it had been the first time that he had parked his car in the police station’s parking at the back. Surveillance cameras in the station showed the two defendants in a conversation before the Emirati businessman walked to the corridor that leads to the back exit door …,” the officer said.

Records said the businessman was arrested in Abu Dhabi in a sting operation.

The primary ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.