Only 47 cases of bribery were registered in the federal courts for 2012, the Ministry of Interior’s 999 magazine reports.
“Even as the UAE’s laws against corruption and bribery are extremely strong and clear, the presence of people from so many different countries, where bribery may be seen as a legitimate way of doing business, means that it becomes all the more necessary for the authorities to keep a keen eye out for any underhanded corporate practices,” said Lt Col Awadh Al Kindi, the magazine’s editor-in-chief.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, chief of Public Funds Prosecution, said the low number was a result of the high level of cooperation between public prosecution, courts and police.
“I would like to urge the public to take the initiative if any public official asks them for a bribe of any kind, by filing a complaint against him with the competent authorities, be they public prosecution or police,” Mr Al Hammadi said.
“The role of the public is indispensable in fighting all shapes of corruption, and I would like in this context to praise the conscious public who never accepts or forgives such devious acts.”
Last year the UAE was ranked the least corrupt country in the Middle East by the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, while a decade ago it was behind Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
osalem@thenational.ae
