DUBAI // A Department of Tourism inspector who demanded bribes to overlook hotel violations had his three-year jail term upheld by the Appeals Court today.
KM, 44, an Emirati, would visit hotels and issue them violation tickets then offer to cancel them in return for bribes of up to Dh50,000. He was caught in a police sting operation in which undercover officers watched as he received Dh25,000 from the owner of a five-star hotel he had targeted.
Following his arrest, police also detained the owner of another hotel, the Fortune Grand Hotel, after finding out that he had paid such a bribe.
The owner said he was introduced to the inspector in February 2011 through his partner.
"I found out that my partner had paid the inspector Dh25,000. When I asked him why, he said that it was so he would overlook any violations in our hotel," he said.
He added that the inspector said he needed money because his real estate company had debts due. "He called my partner again in March telling him he wrote a cheque worth Dh35,000 that bounced and that he desperately needed more money or he would be fired."
At his original trial at the Criminal Court, the inspector denied seeking bribes, saying he "asked for the money as a loan".
The Criminal Court also fined the inspector Dh75,000 and this sentence was also upheld by the Appeals Court.
salamir@thenational.ae
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
