DUBAI // The fine imposed upon a business owner who was convicted of offering a bribe to a Ministry of Labour inspector in exchange for lifting a work ban on his companies was dismissed on Wednesday.
However, the Appeal Court upheld a six-month jail sentence against F K, 35, from India. He owns a cleaning services company, a trading firm and ironing and textile drying services.
The Indian offered ministry inspector S A Dh30,000 to help him to get bans on his companies that failed to meet ministry requirements lifted.
Records show that F K sold one of his companies for Dh100,000 but the buyers froze the agreement until the ban was lifted.
The businessman gave the inspector Dh9,000 and promised the remainder once the ban was lifted and he was able to sell one of his companies.
“I have known him since 2009 as he often had procedures done at our offices,” the inspector said. “He called me on my mobile on September 3 last year and requested to meet me outside work. I told him I couldn’t and asked him about his reasons. He then told me that he would give me Dh20,000 if I helped him with his problem.”
S A told superiors about the attempted bribe. They told police.
“I was advised to ask for more to make the man believe that I was in it for real,” said the inspector, who agreed to meet the defendant on September 8 to take the money. F K was arrested that same day.
Dubai Criminal Court found F K guilty, jailed him for six months and fined him Dh9,000. The jail term was upheld but the fine was dismissed.
salamir@thenational.ae
