Sting nets fake goods bribery suspect

A salesman allegedly offered a government employee Dh65,000 to return a huge cache of fake watches, hand bags, wallets and sunglasses confiscated in a raid.

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DUBAI // A salesman offered a government employee Dh65,000 (US$17,700) to return a huge cache of fake watches, hand bags, wallets and sunglasses confiscated in a raid, a court was told yesterday. The defendant, a 38-year-old Indian identified as SW, was arrested during a sting operation. He appeared in Dubai Criminal Courts yesterday on charges of bribery. The sting was co-ordinated by the State Security Agency, because the defendant was suspected of being a foreign agent. He allegedly offered the bribe to a worker for the Economic Department, which held 2,600 fake goods confiscated during a raid.

In the case of the fake goods, First Lt Nasser Abdullah, of the State Security Agency, told prosecutors the defendant had offered to pay Dh25 per item to the Economic Department employee. The defendant also asked the employee to return work permits confiscated during the raid. The defendant was arrested after he presented two cheques to the employee. SW is alleged to have said that he and a group of 15 others has purchased the items for Dh80,000 with the intent of re-selling them.

The case was adjourned to March 14. @Email:amustafa@thenational.ae