DUBAI // Two police corporals appeared in court yesterday accused of abusing their positions to kidnap and extort money from illegal street traders and their customers.
The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told that HI, aged 19 and AM, 20, both Emirati, used their police car and uniforms to make victims hand over money.
In his confession, AM said he and his partner thought no one involved in illegal street trade would report them for fear of facing charges themselves.
By this method, the two policemen stole Dh3,730 (US$1,050), which they split between themselves. AM said they also took pornographic DVDs from street vendors.
Three vendors told prosecutors that they were picked up by the defendants in April 2009.
They said the men, wearing full police uniform and driving a Dubai Police 4x4, stopped them and forced them in to their car.
The traders were searched and their wallets taken before they were asked to leave, records showed.
Another victim told prosecutors that he was warned by other police officers about the pair. He said that one day, as he was purchasing pornography from a street vendor, he was approached by the officers, who told him to get in their car. He said he saw a Bangladeshi "illegal" in the car, as well. He said he was slapped and told to hand over his wallet, from which they took Dh1,500.
A police lieutenant said the force had received a tip-off about the defendants stealing from vendors in the Al Quoz industrial area, and arrested them as they were committing the crime.
The two have been previously found guilty of extorting money from illegal street vendors, for which they were sentenced to one year in jail.The court adjourned the trial to May 25 to present witnesses in the case.
amustafa@thenational.ae
Results
Stage seven
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s
General Classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s
3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.