Woman denies offering Dh10,000 bribe to Dubai customs inspector

Chinese woman is accused of offering the money to a customs inspector if he took care of the paperwork related to a container she was expecting to arrive at Rashid Port.

DUBAI // A woman has denied offering a Dubai customs inspector a Dh10,000 bribe in return for taking care of the paperwork related to a container she was expecting.

Chinese woman JS, 33, offered a bribe to inspector AA in October last year in return for approving her container’s papers and not referring the matter to his department at Rashid Port, prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court on Thursday.

“I know her through work and she had previously received containers that were meeting regulations but in October last year she came asking about one of her containers and she said that it was withheld by Customs,” testified AA.

He added that she asked him for his phone number so that she can call and ask about the container. On October 22, he said she texted him asking for his help.

“She told me she would need my help and would highly appreciate it,” said AA, who found the following phone calls and texts from her to be suspicious, so he advised his supervisor.

The inspector was told to play along and, on October 27, the woman allegedly called him and asked to meet at a hotel. When they met she offered him the money, he said, in return for finalising the paperwork.

He later agreed to accept the money and a sting operation was set up that seen her arrested after money had changed hands, AA said.

The next hearing will be on April 13.