Ras Al Khaimah - He was not accompanied by any policemen as he spends quality time with his family.
Published: Mon 2 Sep 2019, 12:00 AM
Last updated: Mon 2 Sep 2019, 3:18 PM
A prisoner in Ras Al Khaimah was given special permission to accompany his children to school on the first day of the new academic year. In a video released by the Ras Al Khaimah Police on Sunday, the Emirati father, whose face has been blurred, is seen dressed in a traditional Arab kandoora and headgear as he and his wife accompanied their two children to school.
He is not seen accompanied by any policemen as he spends quality time with his family.
The video begins with the shot of a policeman escorting him out of the correctional facility. He is made to wear a GPS tracking bracelet before he steps out. He is then seen packing his children's lunch and helping them dress for school, before taking them there.
According to a senior official, the beneficiary is in his 40s and involved in a minor financial case. He is under temporary police detention.
Major-General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, General Commander of the RAK Police, said: "The initiative was possible with the help of the electronic tracking bracelet, which helps us keep an eye on him and track his whereabouts.
"The move is in line with the policy of the UAE Ministry of Interior to promote and guarantee family and community cohesion."
The children paid tribute to the RAK Police. "It was amazing to see, touch, hug and feel my father on the first day of school," one of the children said.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
How the RAK Police chose the beneficiary
Brigadier Yaqoop Yousef Abu Lailah, Director General of the RAK Punitive and Correctional Institution, exclusively told Khaleej Times that the move was the brainchild of a police staff.
"He suggested launching an initiative that reflects the Year of Tolerance, GPS tracking system launched two months ago, and goes with the new academic year."
The RAK police have had to study the files of all RAK inmates to decide on the eligible ones in a very short time; "just four days", he added.
"We dug and delved in all files, mainly the inmates whose lawsuits at not yet ruled by court and are still under a temporary detention, those who have served half of their jail terms, and those who are jailed in small financial cases."
It was a huge surprise to find that many of eligible inmates had already been released in the last pardons of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, he underlined.
Brigadier Yaqoop Yousef Abu Lailah, Director General of the RAK Punitive and Correctional Institution
"The intensive research ended in two cases who are not only eligible but also have children in school; and those were only two; one was accepted and the other wasn't."
Brig Abu Lailah underlined that none of the inmates involved in robberies, armed robberies, murder or drug dealing are eligible for such initiatives.
"It released ever for a short time, they will most likely be involved in similar or other dangerous crimes."
The one picked for this permission release was an Emirati national in his forties, he disclosed. "He was involved in a small financial case and is still under temporary police detention."
It sounded good to give him a chance to accompany his children to school on the first day of the academic year, he stated. "This is in line with the directives of the UAE prudent leadership to promote solidarity, tolerance, and cohesion of all members of the society and bring them happiness."
All precautionary measures have been taken with the sophisticated GPS tracking bracelets as shown in the video clip released by the RAK police, he pointed out. "We are a corrective rather than a punitive institution."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
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