DUBAI // A British pilot who made an illegal U-turn at a Dubai road junction was stopped by a policeman who asked him for Dh3,000 in return for not issuing a ticket and confiscating his car, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.
Emirates Airline pilot R D, 32, told prosecutors that on June 22 he was driving his Porsche Carrera near the Mall of the Emirates when he took an illegal U-turn.
“A police patrol followed me then stopped me and the officer asked for my licence and registration,” the Briton said. “He told me that I made a grave mistake that could have landed me in a traffic accident.” The pilot added that he was told that this offence would earn him a fine of Dh2,500 to Dh3,000 and his car would be seized for a month.
“He told me he will seize the car then asked me to wait until he talked to his partner,” said R D. “He then returned and gave me back my documents but asked for my mobile number. He called later and asked for the Dh2,500 in order not to seize the car.”
The Briton said the Omani policeman, A A, 24, called again, this time asking for Dh3,000. He asked some friends whether requests like this were legal and when told it was not he reported the officer to the Bur Dubai police station.
“My friends checked the offence online and found it was only a Dh450 fine and that he exaggerated the amount and spoke of car confiscation, so he scared me into accepting his offer,” said R D.
Police told him not to answer calls from the officer until a warrant was obtained.
“While with a police officer heading to the criminal investigations department, the defendant called me 10 times,” the pilot said.
The Omani defendant was later arrested in a sting operation while he was still in uniform.
“This didn’t happen,” said A A in court, denying the charge.
The next hearing is on October 16.
salamir@thenational.ae
