Bribe-taking policeman sentenced to two years

ABU DHABI // An Abu Dhabi Police sergeant, identified only as EEAE, has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined for accepting a bribe and for filing false accident reports. A second man, identified only as EMG, of Lebanon, was also sentenced to two years and deportation after he completed his prison term. Two others, identified as MMR from Syria and KMK from Lebanon - who is not in custody - were each sentenced to six months in prison and deportation.

According to the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court, the traffic police sergeant rented a car from EMG, who works at a car-hire firm, and owed Dh5,400 (US$1,470) for the rental. In return for waiving the rental fee, EMG asked EEAE to write up two traffic accident reports, claiming that MMR and KMK were involved in traffic collisions with cars belonging to the rental company. EEAE wrote up the reports and filed them, resulting in an unidentified insurance company paying two claims for accidents that never occurred. MMR and KMK received the lighter sentences of six months for providing their driver's licenses and vehicles registration to EEAE to complete the fraud.

ealghalib@thenational.ae