Dubai, September 27: Thirty-six cases of bribery have been recorded so far this year, mostly involving members of the public trying to bribe traffic policemen to avoid fines or to fast-track a driving licence.
The trend has prompted Dubai Police to step up vigil and bring to book both the seeker and the giver of bribes.
Rashid bin Dhaboi Al Falasi, director, Criminal Records Section in Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, said the department and courts imposed strict penalties.
Falasi said in 2008, 37 bribery cases were recorded in the UAE.
“In the past bribery cases were not prevalent in the country but recently few cases have been reported in the UAE,” he said.
He pointed out that most complaints were lodged by government servants against members of the public who attempted to bribe them for a service.
“Government officials who received bribes represent only one per cent of total cases,” Falasi said.
He said that a series of corruption and bribery cases were reported in Dubai against businessmen and officials. Falasi said the Dubai National Security section tackles the cases confidentially until the completion of investigation and hearings. He did not go into further detail.
The majority of those caught in 2009 had offered bribes to traffic policemen to clear fines or to get a driving licence, or to police officials in an attempt to escape a penalty.
Airport officials, too, were bribed to allow people blacklisted from travel or who had previously been deported, to depart or enter the country.
Recently, two women visitors suspected of involvement in flesh trade were charged with trying to bribe an officer of the Dubai Naturalization and Residency Department to allow their entry. In another case, a Chinese woman offered bribe to an officer to allow her sister to enter the country despite a ban on her.
Falasi said some offenders approached municipality officers to cancel violations. Last week, a Chinese woman engaged in prostitution, was referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution after she allegedly offered Dh5,000 bribe to an official.
The municipality official had recorded a number of violations against the woman. The police trapped her trying to bribe the official and arrested her.
“Last week a couple, who were arrested for an indecent act, offered bribe to a police officer,” Falasi said.
Those caught offering bribes were referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution. Falasi said offering or seeking bribe was against the law in the UAE which clearly set out rules on the issue.
“According to Article No. 234 of the Federal Law No.3 in 1987 and its amendments, those who give or take bribes would be punishable for at least one year in jail and a maximum of 10 years,” he said.
Falasi said only one per cent of cases reported were done anonymously, indicating the public’s trust in the justice system.
He maintained that transparency, fair salaries and the absence of red-tapism in government departments in the UAE and in Dubai, paved the way for a near-bribe free atmosphere.
He denied the occurrence of other types of bribes in Dubai such as giving gifts or commission.
Falasi said accepting a gift or taking a commission to provide a service is against the laws and would be considered a bribe.
Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said the UAE has strict comprehensive laws that enable courts to take action to combat bribery and reduce corruption.
If a member of the public approaches the police and lodges a complaint against a public servant, after verification, the police will set a legitimate trap, bring witnesses, record the incidents, and catch the suspect red-handed.
High-profile corruption cases have been brought to light over the past year but police say most involved fraud and embezzlement, rather than bribery.
The Dubai Public Prosecutor’s office has handled cases involving businessmen and former bank executives.
In a case involving former employees of Dubai Islamic Bank, seven people were named, two of whom were accused of receiving a total of $1.7 million in alleged bribes to facilitate the financing of deals.
A local senior executive of Mizin and an engineer of Lebanese nationality were charged with bribery and financial irregularities, amounting to nearly Dh49 million.
In another case, five senior executives from Tamweel and Bonyan Holding are facing charges of bribery involving more than Dh46 million.
In another development, two former Nakheel executives were detained for allegedly accepting Dh5.14 million as bribe.
–Agencies