Police officer promoted himself, court hears

ABU DHABI // A police sergeant who worked in information technology at the Ministry of Interior promoted himself to captain and awarded himself a pay rise using the ministry's computer system, a court heard yesterday.

He took the extra pay for about a year until he was caught when he tried to promote himself to major, which normally takes four years, prosecutors told Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance.

AJ, an Emirati, denied the charge. His lawyer, Fayza Moussa, said it was impossible for someone to forge a promotion because the Interior Minister had to initiate the process.

"Even if [AJ's] heart was made of iron he would not have had the guts to do it," she said.

The lawyer said her client's salary increase had been issued by the major general in charge of the finance department.

The verdict will be announced on October 11.

hdajani@thenational.ae