Sheikh Saif vows to fight corruption as UAE government employees are arrested

Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin Zayed hails arrest saying there is 'no room for corruption' within local organisations

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, warns against corruption as ministry staff are arrested for blackmail. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Four Ministry of Interior employees accused of using confidential information to blackmail people have been arrested.

On Monday, the ministry revealed that three Emiratis and an Indian man had threatened people that their names would be added to the police's wanted list if they did not give them money.

This would have prevented the alleged victims from travelling or obtaining residency visas for themselves and their families.

"This forced them [the victims] to pay amounts of money to get rid of the blackmail," the ministry said.

Federal police forces, who monitor administrative procedures and information security, picked up on the illegal activity and arrested the men.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, hailed the arrest and warned his staff that any wrongdoing will be punished.

“An employee from the Ministry of Interior has been arrested and charged with corruption. There is no room for a corrupt [person] in our organisations," he said on Twitter.

“There is no room for corrupt people among us and all legal measures will be taken against him.”

Sheikh Saif said government organisations were built to serve society with "honesty and integrity".

The ministry vowed to fight corruption “regardless of its size or level”, saying it would continue to monitor its employees' work.

The ministry said the crimes allegedly committed by the employees “has no connection whatsoever with the principles of the ministry and its workers”.

“There is no one above the law. And once the ministry’s observatory unit recognised suspicious actions by its employees, they were investigated, and the gang has been referred to the concerned authorities," it said.