DUBAI // A customs officer was offered a bribe of Dh50,000 to allow a container with banned red sandalwood into the country, a court heard on Tuesday.
Pakistani tourist JJ, 34, is accused of offering the sum to inspector AA in exchange for clearing the container at Jebel Ali Port in June last year.
Prosecutors said that MH, 32, conspired with compatriot JJ to get the container released, knowing fully that red sandalwood is banned.
JJ met the inspector before the incident and exchanged mobile numbers. It is alleged that JJ contacted him at a later stage and requested his help to release a container, which he said held counterfeit products, in exchange for Dh10,000.
She told AA that there were eight other containers, some of which were en-route from Pakistan, that she wanted help in clearing from customs, prosecutors said.
The inspector reported the incident to his boss and they agreed to discuss a price with JJ before reporting the case to police.
The defendant then offered Dh50,000 for help with all the containers.
The customs inspector and police set up a sting operation and JJ allegedly handed over a cheque for the amount in a car park in Al Twar, near Dubai airport, after being given it from MH, who was sitting in a car. Both were then arrested.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) agreement bans importing red sandalwood.
At Dubai Criminal Court on Tuesday, MH denied the charge of offering a bribe, while JJ did not appear to enter a plea.
The next hearing is on May 10.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
