DUBAI // Five men working at Al Ahli Driving Institute denied this morning seeking and taking bribes from students, and a sixth admitted to taking a Dh6,000 bribe to allow an unqualified student to pass.
The five Indian defendants, identified as AA and, AK, both 24; MA, 25; SK, 27; and NS, 34, all clerks at the institute, were accused of taking Dh34,000 in bribes from students at the institute, the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance heard.
According to records, AA, AK, SK, MA and NS took bribes to ignore rules requiring original passport copies, assigning students to certain examiners, forging applications and sending the the forged documents to the Roads and Transports Authority to issue licences.
MM, 30, a receptionist, admitted to taking Dh6,000 in return for opening files for new students without viewing their passports.
AA, AK, MA, MM, and SK are also accused of forging stamps of private companies on letters of no objection from the students' employers, which they denied.
Records said a man identified as RS failed driving tests at Al Ahli from 2008 to August 2009. He told prosecutors that in 2009, SK approached him and asked for a Dh8,000 bribe to help him pass.
He said he paid the money, but SK did not help him, records show.
The next hearing was scheduled for April 4.
salamir@thenational.ae
