ABU DHABI // A mobile-phone application will now allow legal parties to conduct a trial online will be introduced into the UAE judicial system, officials have announced.
The idea of the “smart trial” comes as an alternative for the typical trial, where all parties have to be present in one courtroom during the hearing.
During a conference to announce innovative judicial initiatives in line with innovation week, three new electronic procedures the ministry aims to implement were announced.
The smart trial app gathers the judge — who is present in the courtroom — electronically with the accuser, accused, witnesses, experts, translators and other concerned parties, explained Abdullah Al Majed, undersecretary of support services at the Ministry of Justice.
It will be enough for all sides to attend the hearing electronically via the app, “which allows them to present their defence and allows the judge to question the concerned parties”.
Preliminary studies have already been conducted regarding the service which proved that it will enhance and speed up the judicial process, he added.
The minister of justice has already assigned legal teams to introduce the required amendments to the law to implement the new smart procedures.
The ministry also introduced the “smart waiting” system for customer service centres. With this app, the customer can seek a waiting card electronically without having to go to the centre itself to pick a number and wait for long hours.
The third service is the “electronic memory” which offers a database for records of previous offenders.
hdajani@thenational.ae
