Huge eleventh hour turnout

ABU DHABI — A Khaleej Times reporter, who was at the Immigration Department in Abu Dhabi to follow up the departure procedures of violators, saw a huge turnout of violators seeking to benefit from the amnesty.

By A Staff Reporter

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Published: Fri 2 Nov 2007, 9:52 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:34 AM

Munir Al Din Khaleq, a Bangladeshi violator, said, “I flouted the immigration laws for 10 years. I worked as a servant with a national sponsor against Dh500 a month. He didn’t renew my residency and I have been dragging my feet and didn’t leave the country since my sponsor refused to pay my salary for the past six months. I filed a suit against him. On September 17, the court ordered him to pay my entitlements but he hasn’t paid up till now. The Immigration Department issued me an outpass on Thursday which expires on Saturday. I don’t know how can I get my money from my sponsor.”

Abdul Hakim Mohammed, another residency law violator, said, “I ran away from my sponsor about one year ago and I have no money to pay for the ticket back home ....I don’t know what to do.”

Another violator, Abdullah Mohi from India, indicated that he entered the UAE five years ago and breached the residency law from May 13. He added that his sponsor had neither renewed his residency nor paid him his dues. “I am living with a friend in Abu Dhabi. I will bear the cost of air ticket and depart right away after I get my money from my sponsor who has agreed to do that.”

Abdul Mannan Abdul Sabour from Bangaldesh said his residency expired on November 17, 2004, and his employer (a service company) didn’t renew his residency. “My friends will take care of my travel expenses to home, before the grace period nds,” he added.

An Indian, Jan Lambani, noted that his residency is valid up to December 26, 2007. However, he said that his low salary of Dh300 had forced him to abandon his sponsor who put an absconding notice with the police. “I willingly opted to give myself up and take advantage of the amnesty so that I could leave for home without a ban,” he said.


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