2 Dubai inspectors nabbed for taking bribes

Dubai - An Indian and a Pakistani were also charged with mediating the bribery.

Two vehicle inspectors faced trial on Thursday at the Dubai Court of First Instance for accepting Dh750 in bribes from motorists. They reportedly allowed defective cars to pass the technical test for licence renewal.
Court documents show that the two technicians ­- a Pakistani and a Filipino, aged 27 and 36 - would put in the e-system that the cars passed the second test.
The cars in question had actually failed the first test because of major defects, so the owners had been ordered to bring them back for another test.
However, the two technicians wouldn't conduct the test and would instead forge the e-data and issue 'passed' reports.
Then, they would collect money in return, according to court records. Two other men, including a 22-year-old Indian and a 63-year-old Pakistani, were also charged with mediating the bribery between the technicians and the motorists.
The case dates back to October 17, 2018. It was registered at Al Rashidiya police station.
According to a police lieutenant for counter-administrative corruption at the Dubai Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a source tipped them off about a Pakistani man who would always go to the vehicle technical inspection station.
"We have beed informed that the man would approach motorists, whose vehicles failed the test, offering them help. He would seek amounts of money, which vary depending on the defects."
Busted
The CID officers then sent one of their informants to the station, bringing a car that had failed the test.
"Our informant asked the Pakistani man for help. He gave him the car's details. The suspect asked for the previous report that listed the defects to evaluate how much money he would charge.
"A few minutes later, he called the informant, asking for Dh250," the lieutenant told the prosecutor.
The man also told the informant that he needed to pay Dh70 as a test fee.
"The suspect made a mistake and we later learnt that the fee was Dh170," the lieutenant said.
The Indian defendant was arrested by the CID on October 17, 2018, after he was sent by the Pakistani to help the informant with his car.
The suspect was nabbed right after he collected the bribe money.
The trial will continue on September 16.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai