DUBAI // Two men offered Dubai Customs inspectors a Dh40,000 bribe to free up a shipment of musical instruments that had been confiscated on arrival, a court has heard.
Prosecutors said that on May 17 last year the Indian manager, 45, and his business partner, 46, offered the bribe and asked inspectors to stamp the shipment papers at Jebel Ali Port.
They also asked the inspectors to write a note saying the two vehicles containing the instruments had passed inspection when they had not.
An Emirati inspector, 27, said he asked the two for the shipment documents.
“They said it was with the company’s representative, and shortly after one of them approached me and my colleague and presented documents that had a list of items different to those in the vehicles,” said the inspector.
At that point he said the two spoke between themselves, then one of them offered the inspectors the bribe.
“I informed my supervisor at once. He asked me to play along and he called police,” said the inspector, who was told by police to arrange a meeting the next day to arrest the defendants.
“I met him at 2pm the next day and he was arrested when he handed me the money,” said the inspector. Another inspector gave the same testimony.
The manager told prosecutors that the inspector had asked for the money and threatened to frame him if he did not pay.
“It was then when I told him, ‘Let me ask the company’s manager’, who, when I told him about the incident, refused to pay,” he said.
“But after the inspectors’ persistence, my manager agreed.”
At Dubai Criminal Court on Sunday morning, the two denied a charge of bribery.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 13.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
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Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
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Countries offering golden visas
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Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
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The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
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Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
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It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
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