RTA examiner jailed for taking bribes

A driving instructor is charged with taking bribes to pass students.

DUBAI // An RTA driving examiner has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined Dh50,000 for collecting bribes from 30 people who wanted to obtain licences illegally.

Ten other defendants, eight Indians and two Pakistanis, were sentenced to six months in prison for bribing the Emirati instructor, 65, to forge licence applications.

Prosecutors at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance accused the instructor of receiving bribes and abusing his power.

They said he forged Roads and Transport Authority records by giving the applicants passes without making them take a test.

The 10 defendants, aged between 23 and 42, were convicted of aiding and abetting him.

Prosecutors said the Pakistani clerk MR, who reported the case, testified that his younger brother applied to the RTA for a driving licence but failed twice.

"One of the examiners [not the defendant] gave me the contact number of a man who could help my brother pass the driving examination," MR said.

"We contacted a person who asked us to pay Dh6,000, confirming that my brother would pass if he sits for the exam on a Saturday.

"I went back to the examiner and told him what happened, then he asked me to inform the police."

Police arranged a sting operation with MR's help and obtained permission from prosecutors to record phone calls between him and the suspect.

The suspect, identified as SS, was arrested and provided the details of the operation.