Dubai residency worker ‘falsified records for 2,000 expats’



DUBAI // A residency department worker falsified the records of more than 2,000 foreigners so they could continue living in the UAE, a court heard yesterday.

MA, 32, an Emirati officer at the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, accessed his work database and falsified the data of 2,060 Asian visitors to make it look as if they had departed the country when they had not, heard the Criminal Court.

Prosecutors said that the officer had been doing this since January 2010, but did not clarify whether he had been paid anything in return.

The man had worked at the department since 2003 and in 2009 was transferred to a section that investigates deported people trying to re-enter the country. However, his job did not require him to access the computer system, a colleague testified.

In court the man denied charges including illegally accessing government data, forgery and use of forged documents.

The next hearing was scheduled for October 6.

salamir@thenational.ae

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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Sand storm

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Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

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