Two charged in immigration bribery scheme

Clerk took Dh80,000 to change forms and eliminate fines, prosecutors say.

DUBAI // Two men denied this morning a scheme involving Dh80,000 in bribes in return for falsifying information on electronic applications at the Naturalisation and Residency Department, a Dubai court heard.

Prosecutors accused a 34-year-old Egyptian clerk, HM, of offering bribes between October 2010 and January 2011 to AR, an Emirati corporal at the department, in return for illegal favours.

According to records, AR, who worked at the entry permits section, requested and accepted bribes from HM to illegally finalize and approve applications without HM providing the proper documents and without the presence of the concerned people.

Prosecutors also accused AR of forging electronic files for several people in return for bribes, including deleting Dh116,200 in fines from some files.

Records said he deleted the fines at HM’s request so the people involved could leave the country.

Prosecutors said HM paid AR Dh500 to Dh6,000 for each operation.

AR denied a third accusation of giving hard copies of the forged documents to HM, who was accused of aiding and abetting AR in his crimes.

Prosecutors said both men confessed during investigations. They were arrested after irregularities were spotted in several files.

A verdict is expected on April 4.