Dubai RTA inspector on trial accused of demanding bribe from motorist

Inspector denies asking Pakistani, who was using his private car as a taxi, for Dh1,500 in return for cancelling the Dh4,000 fine issued against him.

DUBAI // A Roads and Transport Authority inspector is accused of asking for a bribe from a man in return for cancelling a Dh4,000 fine against him.

He denied charges of seeking a bribe at Dubai Criminal Court on Thursday morning.

Prosecutors said that Emirati JH, 35, had, between December 18 and 24 last year, asked Pakistani KK, 51, to pay him Dh1,500 in return for cancelling the Dh4,000 fine issued to the Pakistani for using his private car as a taxi.

KK told prosecutors that he was given the defendant’s number by his cousin, who told him that the inspector would help him erase any RTA violations in return for money.

“I received a fine during December last year when an undercover RTA inspector got into my car for a lift in return for Dh15, therefore I sought the help of JH to cancel the fine,” said KK.

The Pakistani said the inspector contacted him two days later and asked him for Dh1,500 and the original fine, which he handed over.

“He did not cancel the fine and stopped taking my calls, so I paid the fine at the RTA and asked him for my money. Two months later he only returned Dh900 so I reported him to RTA, which referred the matter to police,” said KK.

RTA legal researcher AM told the court: “When confronted, JH denied the accusations and told us that they were malicious because he reported one of KK’s relatives for absconding and that he took Dh1,500 from KK to pay for a plane ticket for his relative after he was deported by court.”

The next hearing will be on October 29.