Dubai Police traps man taking Dh122,500 bribe in sting operation

Dubai - He was caught red-handed collecting the bribe outside a shopping centre in Al Barsha.

A municipality employee has been charged at the Dubai Court of First Instance after he allegedly sought and received Dh122,500 worth of a bribe.
According to public prosecution records, the case dates back to December 23, last year, when the 45-year-old employee, a Comoros Islands passport holder, demanded the amount against the renewal of 11 trade licences of pharmacies, a hospital and other medical centres.
He was arrested by the police in a sting operation after being caught red-handed collecting the bribe outside a shopping centre in Al Barsha. He remains in detention.
The complainant said: "The defendant's wife was my sponsor in a pharmacy in Ajman for three years 15 years ago. And my relation with them was severed after the defendant would come and take medicines for his family without paying or paying for the services at a hospital I work for. I told the worker at the pharmacy not to give him any medicines if he did not pay."
During the investigation, the complainant recounted how he sent his colleague in December 2018 to the defendant who worked at the customer service section regarding the renewal of trade licences but the latter claimed he was very busy with many other transactions. "The accused asked my colleague to buy him brand new smart phones as gifts. He told him to inform the person in-charge that he would decrease the labour accommodation fees and those of the staff accommodation in return of getting 30 per cent of the total fees amount after discount," the complainant told the prosecutor. "The defendant claimed there are other companies to which he would decrease the costs after they pay him the amount he charges. He told the witness to inform his superior about his offer as he needed the cash for carrying out construction work in his house."
At 10:30am on January 8 this year, the complainant met with the defendant at a café. He was then carrying an envelope containing Dh122,500 which belonged to the police.
The defendant was arrested shortly after he collected the money in his car.
The trial will continue on May 15.
mary@khaleejtimes.com