Duo fined Dh3 million for digging well, selling groundwater in UAE

Fujairah - On checking, the inspectors discovered groundwater reservoirs, pumps, pipes, and a meter therein.

The Fujairah Misdemeanour Court has ordered a manager of a contracting company in Fujairah and his partner to pay a fine of Dh3 million on charges of digging a water well and selling groundwater without permission.
The prosecution witnesses, including an official with a local government body, told the court that they detected the company's illegal act during a routine inspection raid.
"We noticed a closed room with a groundwater desalination station at the company site."
On checking, the inspectors discovered groundwater reservoirs, pumps, pipes, and a meter therein.
"More tools used in filling water tankers were found at the site," he added.
"We had to fill up the well and confiscate all the tools used."
Both suspects, Asian residents, denied the charges. The first said that he "did not dig any well or sell any ground water".
He contended that the father of the second defendant is the real manager of the company. "His name is not included in the trade licence of the company," he told the court.
The second suspect also denied the charges, calling them "baseless and fabricated".
"This baseless case is because of the legal case I filed against a government entity in Fujairah three months ago for cancelling unfair fines."
There is not a single evidence against us, he underlined.
"We did not dig any well or sell any water," he told the court, requesting his acquittal.
The Fujairah Public Prosecution turned down the defendant's defence, urging the court to hear the prosecution witnesses who affirmed the charges.
The court found the duo guilty and slapped them with a hefty fine of Dh3 million.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Fujairah