DUBAI // Smart phone users can now access bail requests and legal judgements on their phones after the launch yesterday of a new mobile phone portal set up by Dubai's prosecution service.
The system allows people to perform 87 legal transactions through their handsets and was unveiled at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex).
The innovation was announced by the Dubai attorney general, Essam Issa al Humaidan, and Yousif al Mutawa, senior advocate general, and aims to streamline access various legal services and reduce crowds at the departments offices.
"These services will give the public access to the prosecution's services from anywhere at any time," said Mr al Humadain. "We have already seen a successful transition with our new website and e-services and believe that this will present a better service for our clients and the public."
"Since the introduction of the e-services portal we have seen a drop from an average of 30,000 registered physical transactions to an average of 12,000 per month," said Hind al Zarooni, the director of the Electronic Services Department at Dubai Public Prosecution.
"The use of the e-services has increased by 47 percent, which reflects the public's satisfaction with them. We are also developing more solutions to facilitate the use [of the online service]."
These additional e-services, according to Abdullah al Merri, the director of information technology at Dubai Public Prosecution, have been developed as part of the agency's strategy to become a paperless organisation and one that is easily accessible to the public.
Attorney General al Humaidan said Public Prosecution will release an e-version of the UAE's constitution to celebrate National Day this year. "This will be a gift to the nation and will boost the national identity," he said.
In addition, landmark rulings and case precedents stipulated by Dubai's highest court between 1988 and 2009 are now accessible to the public through a joint project of Dubai Courts and Dubai Public Prosecution.
The Court of Cassation's rulings and precedents - which were issued in criminal, civil, commercial, labour, Sharia and personal status cases - are now available on the iPhone and iPad.
Dubai Public Prosecution was lauded at the International Public Prosecutors conference last year for taking the lead in adopting IT solutions.
