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Ajman police say Gulf News report rubbish

AJMAN — Brigadier Ali Majid Al Matroushi, Director-General of Ajman Police, stressed that all the information they have provided so far to media personnel of all newspapers including your favourite No. 1 newspaper Khaleej Times is accurate and true. The Ajman Police will not tolerate those who are fabricating false reports in the name of the police, he said, warning that legal action will be taken against them through proper channels.

Defending their stance on the two Ajman cases reported recently by a cross section of the media, the official said that the Ajman Police is transparent and accurate in respect of all information that it provided to the media. “We are responsible for releasing these information, which is based on our investigations and interrogation, that are available in the records. There is no attempt at hiding the truth from the public who have the right to know about all issues pertaining to public safety in the emirate.”

He added: “We have the right to deny all false information published in any newspaper which quotes unofficial sources or collects information from the people in the street. Our doors are open to the media and the public who are welcome at any time to come and enquire about the correct information. The Ajman Police department is part of the Ministry of Interior under whose instructions we are dealing with the Press in terms of releasing information accurately, honestly and with transparency.”

Defending his stance on the two recent reports published in the ‘Gulf News’, which he termed as ‘damaging’, Brig. Al Matroushi clarified that in both cases, the information published by ‘Khaleej Times’ has been accurate. The officers at all police centres in Ajman are not authorised to release information to the Press directly as they do not have enough information about the investigation process and this is the responsibility of the officers of criminal investigation sections. These officers are always inviting media personnel for Press conferences to release information relating to any crime committed in the emirate, he said.

He stated that the ‘Gulf News’ had on several occasions published false and fabricated stories by quoting unidentified sources from the police or quoting people from the street. “But their reporters have not shown up at our offices to get the accurate and correct information on the recent two cases reported by the media, Brigadier Al Matroushi said.

The Ajman Police chief reiterated that the husband and brother of the woman involved in the case of the death of a man falling from a fourth floor balcony of a residential building last week, were not arrested, as there were no charges against them. The case is now with the Ajman public prosecution, he said.

All other papers back Ajman police version

SPEAKING to Khaleej Times, media personnel from a cross-section of the English and Arabic Press who cover the Ajman Police confirmed receiving adequate cooperation, transparency and accuracy from the Ajman Police and the respect accorded to them as media representatives.

Osama Ahmed, reporter from the ‘Al Bayan’ Arabic daily said: “I have been covering the Ajman Police for six years and the officials are very cooperative and honest. They never hide news from the Press. They respect all reporters who approach them for information or comments and they make all efforts to provide such reporters with necessary information. They are accessible on phone round-the-clock and they answer our queries at all times with sincerity and full respect.”

Abdullah Arbab, from the ‘Seven Days’ English daily, very upset with the report published in the ‘Gulf News’ slamming the Ajman police chief said that a good journalist is the one who can smell news and confirm it with the official of the concerned authority. “The officials are the right sources to confirm the details of the news which should be accurate and honest when published. Readers would believe and trust the news released by officials, not the information collected from streets or obtained from unconcerned sources. The ‘Gulf News’ report which was published yesterday is an unacceptable insult to the Ajman Police chief and the Ministry of interior,” he added.

Arbab said: “I have been dealing with the Ajman Police for about two years and they have been very cooperative, honest and transparent. They give the Press the due importance as they understand the important role of the media in social development.”

Ali Al Hanouri, a reporter from the ‘Al Ittihad’ Arabic daily said: “I have been covering the Ajman Police for three months, they are cooperative and deal with the Press with transparency. They never hide news from reporters and they are available all times to answer the phone or receive the Press at their office”.

Mohammed Al Samhouri, a reporter from the ‘Al Khaleej’ Arabic daily said: “I used to cover the Ajman Police. They always made matters easy for us by calling for Press conferences regularly to release information about crimes in detail and with pictures. Whenever I called them to confirm news, they never denied it if it had happened. However, there were times when they requested us not to publish a news for fear that it would affect the investigation process.”

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