Plumber denies offering bribe for immigration violation

DUBAI // A Bangladeshi plumber tried to bribe a police officer with Dh500 after he was arrested for illegally being in the country, according to court records. 

M S, 31, denied the charges at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday. The policeman told prosecutors that while patrolling the Naif area with another officer, he came across M S, who aroused suspicion by walking close to local shops at 2am. The officer noted that M S appeared to be uneasy and was looking around quite often.

When the officers approached MS and asked for his identification card, he allegedly told them he was in the Emirates illegally. He explained that he had been deported once before, but had illegally returned to the country, according to police. 

The officers arrested M S. In the police vehicle, one officer allegedly heard M S attempt to bribe the other in exchange for letting him go free. When the second officer pretended to show some interest, M S pulled Dh500 out of his pocket, police say. 

The plumber was instantly notified that he had just committed the offence of trying to bribe an official.

The case has been adjourned to October 21. 

balqabbani@thenational.ae