Community service brings down reckless driving in Abu Dhabi

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Community service brings down reckless driving in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi prosecutors meet men sentenced to perform community services

Abu Dhabi - Officials appraise men sent for community service

by

Ismail Sebugwaawo

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Published: Tue 10 Apr 2018, 5:25 PM

Last updated: Tue 10 Apr 2018, 7:45 PM

Public prosectors in Abu Dhabi have visited six young men, who had been sentenced to community service, to review their performances.
The men had been ordered to maintain and clean public parks, beaches, streets, public libraries and mosques as well as serving at petrol pumps for a period of three months. They had been convicted in various traffic offences including reckless driving, performing road stunts and racing on the roads.
The authorities said the introduction of community service penalties led to a significant decrease in the number of drivers being prosecuted for reckless driving.
Khalid Al Shamsi, director of the community service office in Abu Dhabi, said: "We visited them to see how they are implementing their sentences and ensure that they are committed to the community service work. The community service work aims at benefiting the public in addition to reforming the convicts and change their behaviours."
The public prosecutors oversee implementation of the community service and receive reports on the offenders' performance, according to the law. If the convict fails to perform the community service well, prosecutors can refer him to court and be given a jail sentence similar to the period of the community service he had been handed.
The community service replaced detention in minor crimes that otherwise do not exceed more than six months imprisonment of a fine.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said early this year that 84 people convicted in various offences were ordered to perform community service since the implementation of the new penalty in March 2017.
Majority who have been handed community service were convicted in traffic related cases.
According to authorities, 20 motorists were prosecuted over reckless driving during the first six months of 2017 compared to 35 during 2016.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
 


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