RTA workers in Dubai took bribes to fake vehicle tests, court hears

Customers paid them more than Dh13,000 to pass inspections, prosecutors say.

DUBAI // Two data entry officers at the Roads and Transport Authority this morning denied taking bribes in exchange for forging official documents showing vehicles had passed testing.

The two Iranians, a female defendant AB, 32, and SQ, 31, denied before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance taking nearly Dh13,500 to falsify the vehicles' test results.

Two Indians, AA, 33, and SJ, 39; and two Pakistanis, MS, 36, and TA, 35, are facing charges of offering bribes as well as criminal complicity and aiding and abetting.

They all denied the charges before court.

Prosecutors said TA offered AB and SQ Dh2,200 in return for falsifying the results of test results for his truck to help him renew its ownership. Records show that AB and SQ charged the other defendants between Dh800 and Dh1,100.

According to records, the defendants confessed to prosecutors and said they had been taking bribes since 2008.

Prosecutors said that AB and SQ admitted they did it because their salaries, Dh2,200 per month, were too low.

A 33-year-old public relations supervisor told prosecutors that he filed reports against AB and SQ following several complaints.

The next hearing will be on June 2.