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Jailed for gambling in the open

DUBAI — A Bangladeshi man was sentenced recently to three months in jail for organising a gambling game in the open.

The Court of First Instance ordered the 25-year-old defendant to be deported after serving his jail term. The verdict is subject to appeal at the Court of Appeal within 15 days.

According to the prosecution records, the defendant, who is jobless, organised the game in a sandy yard in Al Quoz Industrial Area. He assembled players and agreed with them that whoever loses would pay a sum of money to the winner. He also allegedly played with them.

An Emirati police sergeant said during investigation that he was with another sergeant patrolling Al Quoz Industrial Area about 8pm on July 25. They spotted the defendant organising the gambling game. He was explaining to a group of men, gathered around him, the game. He was seen holding a screwdriver and a belt to conduct the game for passersby.

The sergeant said in his statement that his colleague arrested the accused and found sums of money with him, which were the revenues from the illegal game.

The other men, who were on the scene, fled the place as soon as the accused got arrested.

The defendant claimed to the police that it was the first time he gambled and denied that he had been organising or instigating people to gamble. He was taken into police custody. He admitted in during interrogation by the Public Prosecution that he organised the game in the open for the public.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE