Sentence reduced for Dubai officer who sought bribe

The officer's original two year term was reduced to one, while the remainder of the sentence was upheld.

DUBAI // A policeman originally sentenced to two years in jail for seeking a Dh3,000 bribe from a Saudi driver in return for not issuing him a ticket has had his sentence reduced to one year by the Dubai Court of Appeal.

At the Dubai Criminal Court in July Emirati Y A, 30, was jailed for two years, had his work position terminated for three years and fined Dh3,000. On Sunday, however, the Court of Appeal reduced the jail term, but upheld the rest of the sentence.

Prosecutors said that on January 19, F G, a Saudi national, stopped his car in the middle of the road at Jumeirah Beach Residence to say hello to a friend. A Dubai Police patrol car stopped and the defendant seized F G’s driving licence. He also told him his car would be impounded and he would be fined Dh10,000.

According to records, F G said he asked the policeman to let him go and he would not repeat the error, stressing that he was leaving the UAE that same night.

He said Y A then took him aside and said that he would let him go if he paid him Dh5,000.

F G negotiated with the policeman and managed to lower the amount to Dh3,000.