Dewa employee ‘took Dh10,000 bribe to reconnect homes to power’

DUBAI // A Dubai Electricity and Water Authority employee accepted a Dh10,00 bribe in exchange for reconnecting power to the home of a customer who had not paid his bill.

The Egyptian technician, 40, along with a 36-year-old accountant, also Egyptian, denied charges of asking for and accepting bribes from customers who had outstanding bills in return for turning on their electricity and water. The accountant was also charged of impersonating a Dewa official.

In February this year, the accountant visited a customer whose electricity had been cut off and identified himself as a Dewa employee.

He asked for Dh10,000 to reconnect his home. The tenant agreed, but then called police

The technician turned on the power to customer’s home, as well as several Emirati customers, without the approval or knowledge of the company. Both defendants were then arrested.

The next hearing at Dubai Criminal Court is set for January 12.