12 drivers held for tampering with meters in Sharjah

Sharjah - Khaleej Times spoke to a cross section of taxi drivers to find out why they cheat.

The Sharjah Police have arrested 12 taxi drivers on charges of breach of trust and embezzling. The drivers, all from Pakistan and aged between 20 and 50, tampered with the meters of the taxis which belonged to Sharjah RTA.
The PRO of Sharjah RTA informed the Wasit Police Station that the taxi drivers had been embezzling money, about Dh300,000, by tampering with the meters. According to the PRO, the taxi drivers disconnected a wire that connects to the meter. The cars have been taken to the workshop which in turn will submit a report to the police. The company has, in the meantime, taken the passports of the drivers as a precautionary measure
During police interrogation, 10 of the taxi drivers confessed to the crime but said they are not aware of the total amount of money that was misappropriated. The other two drivers denied the accusation.

One of the drivers aged 24, who allegedly embezzled Dh24,000, said his revenue was less because he was suffering from back pain and hence had to go to Al Ain. Hence he could not make enough trips.
Another driver, AZ, confessed that he stopped the meter. "I stopped the meter more than 22 times and used the money to pay for the accumulated traffic violations," said AZ. Another driver stopped the meter over 29 times and used the money to pay for petrol.
MM who had been working for the company for two years said he used to stop the meter for short distances and used the money to pay for petrol and traffic fines. He added that his revenue was not sufficient to meet those needs.
NA alleged that he has been working for RTA for one year and seven months but was given only two months' salary. He confessed that he had tampered with the meter and that he had used the money to buy food and drinks. He claimed that an official at the RTA had told him that he could stop the meter for some time, sufficient enough to cover his food and drinks. Thus he stopped the meter three to four times, during short distances, he said.
M.A who has been working for the company for over two years claimed that he did not get his salary for seven months and the same official, recommended by his colleague, advised him to stop the meter for short periods of time. He admitted that he has made a mistake but said he had no alternative.
Another driver who embezzled Dh24,000 said he had misappropriated only Dh1,000. All taxi drivers have been referred to the Sharjah Public Prosecution.
Why do they cheat?
Khaleej Times spoke to a cross section of taxi drivers to find out why they cheat.
Ahmed D (name changed) felt that the company should revise its polices and pay more. But low salaries are not an excuse to cheat, he added. Ahmed said the company cuts their salaries in case of traffic violations and some drivers end up earning just Dh700 as salary after the deductions. This is more true in the case of new drivers who commit more violations, he added.
Another driver said some drivers get just 15 per cent as commission while others can get 35 per cent. He said he would work for 48 hours at a stretch so that he can earn up to Dh3,000 per month.
SK, another driver, said they have to pay the traffic fines and, often, they are not given the details of the fine. Also, if they meet with an accident they have to pay even if the insurance companies pay for it. He added that companies also deduct money from drivers if a customer complains against them or if the car is found to be dirty
AZ, another driver said many drivers have left as they could not meet the target. He added that some drivers disconnect the meter when they drive to another emirate. However, the company is now able to trace them due to the GPS facility. The toll gates, too were a give away, he added.
According to Ali A, in the past if the bumper of the car got damaged, Dh1,500 would be deducted from drivers. But now that amount has gone up to Dh6,000. He added that taxi companies should review such policies. This would, to a great extent, prevent drivers from committing fraud, he said. Even the recent hike in taxis fares benefits only taxi companies, he added. He said the number of people using taxis to travel to Dubai has now reduced because of the hike in fares and toll gates.
Hoyam Kamal, another driver, suggested that passengers should be discerning as it is clearly mentioned inside the car that they should not pay if the meter is not working. He also has the right to call the company and inform them about the meter, he said.
amira@khaleejtimes.com