Dubai immigration officer ‘took bribes for issuing illegal residency cards’

Prosecutors in Dubai said Emirati received Dh9,000 and electronics for issuing 118 permits illegally.

DUBAI // An immigration officer accepted bribes and gifts for issuing more than 100 residency cards, a Dubai court heard.

Emirati M B, 32, who worked at the Immigration and Residency department in the free zone at Dubai International Airport, was accused of issuing 118 permits to residents not allowed to sponsor family members because of their low salary, and for accepting applications without having the required documents.

The officer is said to have received Dh9,000 as well as a Samsung S4 and S5, and an iPad.

Afghan D S, 28, was also charged for facilitating the bribes and receiving Dh4,000. Two Indians, A A, 45, and A K A, 42, were charged with bribery.

Police officer M A, 51, found out about the crime when carrying out routine checks.

“I found missing documents from residency applications filed by M B,” the officer said.

“I have looked at all the records and found that the applicants’ job does not allow them to sponsor their families in the country. Some applicants’ salaries were low and do not entitle them to sponsor.” The police officer reported the incident to the Preventive Security department.

All applications processed by the defendant between January and October last year were then checked once again.

Emirati police officer T G, 40, told the court: “D S is the mastermind behind the operation. He received the documents from A A and A K A and passed it to M B to process them.”

Police said the immigration officer and D S would communicate via WhatsApp and that the officer received the Dh9,000 in three instalments.

D S was arrested at Dubai airport as he arrived from a trip abroad.

M B denied the charge of accepting a bribe and D S denied the charge of facilitating bribery at Dubai Criminal Court

A A and A K A did not appear at court to enter a plea.

The next hearing is set for April 29.