Bill of rights for those accused of crime in Dubai

DUBAI // For the first time, those accused of a crime in the emirate will have a guide to their rights to which they can refer.

Dubai Public Prosecution on Thursday issued three books – one for juveniles, one for accused people and one for those serving sentences.

They were compiled from the constitution and federal laws, which had always contained these rights.

Attorney General Essam Al Humaidan said parts had also been taken from the many human-rights agreements to which the UAE was a signatory.

Each book summed up all of the rights accorded to people in the each specific category.

“Despite not being mandatory, we felt this had to be prepared because the accused, whether adult or a juvenile, or the prisoner, have the right to know what their rights are, and what their responsibilities during a legal battle are,” said Mr Al Humaidan.

He said the guides would curb crime as the level of legal awareness increased.

“One who reads these bills, as well as the other awareness campaigns we carry out, will not turn into a criminal in the first place,” he said.

Mr Al Humaidan said there had not been guides of this type before. “However, these rights have always been implemented by prosecutors” he said. “For example, the accused’s right of having a translator during an investigation or his right of knowing the punishment for the crime he is accused of have always been provided, but they were not available for the accused in one book.”

A team of prosecutors and their staff started work on the project in 2011, searching for all articles related to entitlements in the three categories.

Those articles were then summed up in a draft that was revised by a team of senior prosecutors.

“We did not seek the help of any experts from outside as the entire team were Emiratis from inside the prosecution,” said Mohammed Rustom, head of the Family and Juveniles Prosecutions.

The head of general prosecutions, Hamad Al Khalafi, said the guides, available in Arabic and English, included explanations of some complex legal terms.

Chief prosecutor Mohammed Al Hammadi said they included details of each stage, from arrest to evidence collection, investigation, trial and post-trial proceedings.

Mr Al Humaidan said the idea arose from the large number of people accused of crimes, or testifying, who lacked knowledge of their rights. “They would ask about simple rights, if they were entitled to them or not,” he said.

The guides will soon be available on Dubai Prosecution’s website and smartphone app, and copies will be distributed at universities, police stations, the central prison, government institutions, airports and other places.

salamir@thenational.ae