Man jailed, fined Dh100,000 for transporting gas cylinders without permit in Dubai

Dubai - The court ordered the confiscation of the gas cylinders.

A worker, who was caught transporting gas cylinders without a permit, has been sentenced to three months in jail and ordered to pay a Dh100,000 fine.
Public prosecution records show that on May 4, 2018, the 30-year-old Pakistani worker was caught transporting 22 big-sized gas cylinders in a vehicle that was not licensed for that job, consequently causing a hazard to people and other vehicles in the area.
The Dubai Court of First Instance found the worker guilty of transporting highly flammable material by land in a way that violates the law and regulations. The worker will get deported after serving his jail time and paying the penalty. The court ordered the confiscation of the gas cylinders.
The vehicle he was using was not registered with the General Directorate of Civil Defence - the hazardous material control section. A case was registered at the Lahbab police station.
A police corporal said he was with a colleague when a pickup truck driven by the defendant drew their attention. "We stopped the truck and asked him for an ID. We found he was not wanted for any violation and neither was his companion."
According to the corporal, the defendant claimed that someone assigned him to drive the vehicle to a certain place (where he was caught) for an amount of Dh50.
"He claimed he was unaware of what was on board of the vehicle. He said he picked up his companion off the side of the road."
When the police officers opened the back door of the pickup truck, they found gas cylinders. "They were transported in a cooling container. We apprehended the companion as he tried to flee the place. The defendant just stood there."
The other police corporal said that the companion told them he tried to run away as he got scared. "The driver failed to produce any bills or receipts for any purchases of the gas."
A letter from the General Directorate of Civil Defence said that the pickup truck was not registered or licensed for such means of transportation as per the usual procedures by the directorate's hazardous material control section.
The worker has the right to appeal the court ruling within 15 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai