Dubai delivers ‘instant’ verdict: Because justice delayed is...

Dubai - The new court initiative to be implemented by all police stations in Dubai comes under Penal Order Law No. 1 of 2017.

In a move designed to make the UAE’s judicial system more efficient and speed up litigation in Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved an initiative that will cut waiting times by 60 per cent and issue rapid verdicts for 21 types of offences.
The new court initiative to be implemented by all police stations in Dubai comes under Penal Order Law No. 1 of 2017. The initiative aims to curtail time required in investigation and prosecution by implementing a verdict in two phases within 24 hours. Criminal lawsuits are expected to be settled 40 per cent faster, with a 70 per cent reduction in court expenses — a total of Dh40 million a year — since many cases will now be handled by public prosecutors.
“The punitive order law and the one-day case initiative come as part of the efforts which are designed to develop the government work system in general in Dubai and work continuously on finding the frameworks to strengthen the capability of the government in providing services characterised by the ach-ievement of happiness among members of society and enhancing their levels of satisfaction rendered in different sectors, incuding the judiciary, which is of paramount importance as it is the cornerstone in the dispensation of justice,” he noted.
At a meeting of the Dubai Executive Council on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed noted that the one-day court initiative will take effect from today.
“We reviewed the outcome of the experimental phase of the ‘one-day case’ initiative, and we got acquainted with the efficiency and competence of work, which reduces working hours, lessesns cost, and speeds up the litigation process,” he said. “We do trust the judicial machinery with providing quick and highly efficiency services while preserving the rule of law to help achieve our objectives, making it easy for people to finalise their litigation procedures with regard to minor criminal lawsuits and reducing the pressure of courts in such cases.”
“The general performance will keep in line with our ambitious plans for the future, which require speed in execution, and ensure the completion of its principles,” he added.
Already, Al Muraqbbat police station has been receiving and handling minor cases within Deira and Al Barsha police station (for cases within Bur Dubai) as part of the ‘one-day court’ initiative.
A variety of offenses fall within the purview of the initiative, including entering the country illegally, returning after a deportation order, working in the UAE after the cancellation of one’s visa, absconding from a sponsor, the possesion and use of liquor, begging and peddling, as well as drink driving or driving without a licence.
The punitive order stipulates that the Public Prosecution is allowed to impose punishment against whoever is proven to be involved in misdemeanors and minor offences without court intervention.
With the new initiative, new tasks will be added to the duties of public prosectors, which will include misdemeanors and violation that carry only a fine, or a fine or jail penalty. The punitive order, however, will not be applicable on delinquent juvenile or vagrant crimes.
According to the ‘punitive order’ law, the public prosecution shall decide on minor offences and misdemeanors by issuing a punitive order against whoever is proven to have committed such an offence. The prosecution shall levy the applicable fine.
The law aims to expedite the judicial proceeding and cut down on the number of lawsuits and criminal cases being handled by the court of law. It could save on the court charges and fees and minimise the number of applicants at courts, a matter which will make customers happy and raise the reputation of the emirate of Dubai.
By this law, settling criminal lawsuits will be made faster by 40 per cent, and it will cut expenses at courts of law by 70 per cent, since such cases will be handled directly by the public prosecution.
Cases for speedy justice
• General Directorate of Residency
• Illegal entry
• Return after deportation
• Illegal stay
• Work after a ban
• Absconding
Police stations:
• Possession of alcoholic beverages
• Alcohol consumption
• Giving cheques with malicious intent
• Cheque issuance without sufficient funds
• Failure to pay due fees
• Begging
• Illegal vendors
 Traffic Prosecution:
• Accident that injured someone
• Wrecking properties
• Drink driving
• Attempting to drink-dive
• Illegal possession of alcohol
• Driving without a licence

• Dubai