RTA mechanic in dock over bribery

Dubai - A police lieutenant said that they learnt from an Afghani man that J.B. was soliciting bribes to make cars pass the registration test.

A mechanic at the Roads and Transport Authority's Licensing Department in Jebel Ali allegedly took Dh100 bribe from an Indian man and another at large to make the latter's car pass vehicle test, a court heard.
The 41-year-old Filipino, identified as J.B., allegedly made the man's vehicle pass the test and falsely claimed that it met the traffic security criteria and conditions. He was charged with forgery for allegedly falsifying details in an official electronic document (the test form).
The Indian man, a 54-year-old salesman, identified as M.O., has been charged with offering a bribe.
J.B. has been charged in the Court of First Instance with collecting a bribe and forgery while M.O. has been charged with offering a bribe and abetting J.B. in the forgery.
The case dates back to November 17, last year.
A police lieutenant said that they learnt from an Afghani man that J.B. was soliciting bribes to make cars pass the registration test.
"Around 11.30am on November 17, last year we arrested J.B. in a sting operation in the Industrial Jebel Ali area."
J.B. was arrested after allegedly collecting Dh300 from the Afghani and which belonged to the Dubai police.
An Afghani driver said that a man approached him in a parking in Hor Al Anz and asked him whether he wanted to renew the registration of his car.
"I told him that the car had lots of defects and needed to be repaired. I showed him the test result which showed it did not pass."
On October 8, last year, the man phoned him and said he could help him renew the car's registration as he knew someone in the registration centre in Jebel Ali.
He demanded Dh300 as a bribe and Dh150 for the fee.
The police arrested the defendants allegedly after the registration card was handed and money was collected. The court adjourned the hearing to October 6.
mary@khaleejtimes.com