DUBAI // A businessman this morning denied offering a bribe to two police officers in return for not taking him into custody for illegal drinking, the punishment for which is a Dh1,000 fine. The Afghani NM, 22, told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance that he consumed three glasses of vodka but he did not offer the officers KM and WA a bribe. KM, a Jebel Ali Police Station Criminal Investigation Department officer testified that at about 3.15am on February 23, he went to a McDonald's with his patrol colleagues to buy some food and he spotted the defendant harassing some girls there. KM said he and his colleague approached the defendant, showed him their police IDs, then asked to talk to him outside. After leaving, they said, they smelled alcohol on NM. Before they spoke to him he offered MK Dh10,000 if the officers would let him go. WA provided the same testimony and added that when they drove NM to the police station, he again offered them a bribe. The next hearing will be on June 14. salamir@thenational.ae
