ABU DHABI // An admininstrator at Zayed Port who is accused of leaking classified information, said he only did so to hasten a legal procedure for his daughter.
M E B, 42, from India, is on trial at the Federal Supreme Court on charges that he handed over information on naval ships to two employees at the Indian Embassy.
He is also accused of using the port’s electronic system without a permit.
In court on Monday, he said he had been waiting for 42 days for the Indian embassy to complete a passport procedure for his daughter.
Embassy workers had said the process could be sped up if he gave them information.
“I told them I would not give anything illegal, but I have a family, a wife and children. I have done wrong,” said the defendant, while sobbing.
He said he was forced to give the information as the employees were “bargaining” with him.
His lawyer, Fayeza Mousa, said her client admitted he had committed the crime, but it was a minor one.
Ms Mousa said thousands of labourers and employees go through the ports every day, and the news about which vessels arrive are known by news agencies.
“The defendant was only verifying the information that the employees knew about already,” she said.
Judge Falah Al Hajeri said: “The defendant sought to get the information and there would have been no point in them requesting it if they had known.
“The information was given without permits or warrants.”
The case was adjourned until November 9.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae