Woman arrested for begging in Sharjah

Sharjah A woman was arrested yesterday after she was caught in front of a police station begging on the same day she arrived in the country.

The Pakistani suspect, identified as M.R, stood in front of the police station at the industrial area and was unaware that begging was illegal in the UAE.

Officials from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Sharjah Police initially though the woman went to the police centre to lodge a complaint, but soon realised she was begging.

"The women arrived in the country with a visit visa on the same day that she was arrested for begging, and within a few hours had managed to collect Dh2,209," said the police official.

During interrogation, the woman confessed that she came to the UAE to beg and that her goal was to collect the maximum amount of money from people during her stay.

The woman was detained and will be referred to Sharjah Public Prosecution.

Colonel Omar Al Suwaidi, Director of the Industrial Area police station, said that the suspect was not suffering from any metal or psychological problem.

"The only mistake, according to her, that led to her arrest was standing in front of the police centre while begging without realising that she was in front of a police station," he added.