KHDA instructor gets 3 months for taking bribe

Dubai: A Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) instructor faces a three-month prison term for seeking a bribe from a policewoman to help her pass an International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) course.

The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday convicted the 30-year-old Jordanian computer instructor at KHDA of seeking a bribe from the Emirati policewoman, although he pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors accused 30-year-old M.F. of requesting and accepting a bribe from the policewoman after she failed in her ICDL examination three times.

"I did not take or request any bribe… I am not guilty," M.F. contended when he appeared in court.

Compulsory test

Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout also fined M.F. Dh2,000 and said the accused will be deported after the completion of his punishment.

According to the charges sheet, M.F. abused his duties as public servant and requested Dh2,000, three mobile phones and two perfumes as bribe from the policewoman, who sat for a compulsory ICDL course, to help her pass the test.

"I failed the first two exams. When I asked M.F. how I could buy CDs containing trial exams ... he gave me his contact number … I dropped the idea because the CDs cost Dh1,200 [and I could] repeat the exam for Dh75. Afterwards he ... offered to help me pass if I could pay him and two of his colleagues money and buy them phones and perfumes," the policewoman testified before prosecutors. Records said the defendant was arrested in a sting operation.