Policeman, RTA inspector cleared of Dh10,000 bribe

Dubai: A policeman and a Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inspector have been acquitted of requesting a cafeteria owner to pay them a bribe not to fine him for fixing a sunshade illegally.

The policeman, F.A., was earlier accused of mediating with the RTA inspector, J.A., and conspiring with him against the Indian cafeteria owner to pay them a kickback against not fining him after they discovered that he had set up a sunshade without obtaining proper permissions between August and September 2015.

Citing lack of corroborated evidence, the Dubai Court of First Instance cleared F.A. and J.A. of requesting bribes.

Records said F.A. was on patrol in Al Rifa’a when he stopped the Indian man over a traffic offence and discovered that the Indian owned a salon and a cafeteria.

The policeman and the Indian had an argument before the latter informed F.A. that he had been fined for setting up a sunshade over a pavement in front of his cafeteria without obtaining proper permission from the pertinent authorities.

The policeman told the Indian that his friend, J.A., could help cancel the fine if he paid them Dh10,000 in bribe.

J.A. pleaded not guilty and refuted the accusation of requesting a bribe.

F.A. dismissed the accusation of mediating between the RTA inspector and the cafeteria owner to accept the bribe.

According to Sunday’s ruling, presiding judge Mohammad Jamal cleared J.A. of abusing his former job as an inspector at RTA and demanding the Indian pay him a bribe to cancel a fine that was issued against his cafeteria for fixing the sunshade over the pavement without a licence.

F.A. was also cleared of mediating between the inspector and the cafeteria owner to ensure that the Indian pays the bribe against cancelling the violation and to prevent other inspectors from inspecting his cafeteria.

The Indian owner had said that once he realised that the suspects had requested the payment as a bribe, he reported the matter to the police who apprehended the suspects during a sting operation.

The primary ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.