Policeman jailed for asking for a bribe from motorist obstructing traffic at JBR

DUBAI // A policeman will spend two years in jail after he was convicted of asking for a Dh3,000 bribe from a Saudi driver in return for not issuing him a ticket for obstructing traffic.

The Dubai Criminal Court also ordered that Emirati defendant YA, 30, be removed from his position for three years.

The policeman, who did not appear at court to enter a plea, was also fined Dh3,000.

Prosecutors said that on January 19, Saudi Arabian FG stopped his car in the middle of the road at Jumeirah Beach Residences to say hello to his friend.

YA, in his patrol car, spotted this and seized the Saudi’s driving licence. He told the tourist that he will also have his car impounded and that he would be fined Dh10,000.

FG said in records that he asked the policeman to let him go and that he would not do it again, especially as he was leaving the country that night.

He added that YA then took him aside and said that he would let it go if he paid him Dh5,000.

FG negotiated with the policeman, managing to lower the figure to Dh3,000. The Saudi told YA that he had to go get the cash but instead went to a police station and reported the policeman.

Police had FG arrange to meet YA to exchange the money and, when the deal went down, officers arrested YA at the scene.

salamir@thenational.ae