Residency officer takes bribes to issue exit passes

dubai — A corporal at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs allegedly sought and accepted Dh30,000 worth of bribes from 9 persons in return for unlawfully issuing them exit passes.

The Court of First Instance was told the 35-year-old Emirati officer, who works at the Follow-up and Investigation Department, issued those persons exit passes even though they did not pay the cumulated fines on expired residency visas and the departure fees, totally worth Dh445,700.

The case dates back to and prior to December 24, 2015.

A Bangladeshi businessman, 35, who allegedly helped and abetted in the bribery by mediation has also been charged. He is believed to have offered the bribe on behalf of an illegal person, who owed Dh35,800 worth of fines, and took Dh500 for his help.

The nine individuals, who were overstaying with expired visas, are charged in absentia — as they are runaway — with indirectly offering a bribe to a public officer. They include four Bangladeshis, three Pakistanis and two Indians. The residency officer is also accused of abusing his post to unlawfully issue exit passes, forgery and use of forged electronic documents and causing intentional damage to GDRFA’s interests.

An officer at the Preventive Security Department said the case unfolded when one of the accused checked with the follow-up and investigation sector branch in Al Aweer. “The on-duty employees verified and found that he had not paid the due fines for overstaying.”