Dubai Customs inspector was offered bribe to allow in banned sandalwood, court hears

Sri Lankan allegedly offered the amount but he escaped arrest after telling officers he needed the toilet before slipping away.

DUBAI // A man is accused of offering a Customs inspector an Dh80,000 bribe to allow a shipping container with banned red sandalwood into the country.

Sri Lankan M J, whose age was not given, is charged in absentia after he evaded police by saying he needed the toilet and then slipped off.

He is charged with offering a bribe to a public employee between July 7 and 9, 2013, when he allegedly gave Emirati inspector N A a cheque for Dh80,000 as well as the documents related to the container.

The inspector said that he was at his Jebel Ali Port post when the defendant approached him and asked for his phone number. “He said he needed my help, so I gave him my number and informed my boss afterwards,” said N A.

After being advised by his manager and police, the inspector answered the defendant’s call, during which the Sri Lankan allegedly offered the bribe.

Prosecutors said that the defendant first offered to pay Dh50,000 but increased it to Dh80,000 after the inspector haggled.

When the two met to exchange the money and the container documents, M J was arrested in a sting operation.

However, he managed to escape arrest after pretending that he needed to use the toilet. He was referred to court to be prosecuted in his absence.

A verdict will be issued on February 16 regardless of whether the defendant is present.

Exporting red sandalwood is restricted because of its status as an endangered species, according to international conservation agreements.