DUBAI // The Dubai Police chief today urged Indian businessmen to settle any debts amicably, revealing that over 10,000 cases of bounced cheques had been registered in the first six months of this year against Indian expatriates in the emirate.
Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, chief of Dubai Police, said Indian nationals were largely law-abiding citizens, and the community's crime record was relatively low despite its large numbers.
"The Indian people have only minor cases," Lt Gen Tamim told members of the Indian Business and Professional Council at a special address this morning. "The Indian community respects and abides by the law."
About 10,239 cases of bounced cheque cases have been recorded against Indian expatriates in the first six months of this year, until June 25. Last year, nearly 21,000 cases - or about double the number so far this year, were registered. In 2010, the highest number - 23,825 cases - were recorded, compared with 7,500 cases in 2009.
"The economic downturn and financial crisis led to many things in 2010...bouncing a cheque is a crime here," said Lt Gen Tamim.
Discussing the problem with creditors and promising to pay the money back instead of fleeing the country, becoming a "fugitive", was far better, he said.
More than 11,700 criminal offences have been filed against Indian nationals so far this year, and police recorded nearly 24,000 offences last year.
pkannan@thenational.ae
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
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Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
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