UAE forms public prosecution for cybercrimes
abu dhabi — The UAE has established a public prosecution to handle cybercrimes, announced UAE Attorney-General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi on Monday.
The Federal Public Prosecution for Information Technology Crimes will have its headquarters in the Capital, he said, adding that it will specialise in criminal cases involving the use of Information Technology, including the investigation of and resolution of such cases.
The cases include misuse of the Internet with the intention of damaging public morals, trafficking in persons, illegal activity relating to arms, ammunition and explosives, the raising of funds, calling for or abetting the breach of the laws of the State and the organisation of marches or other demonstrations.
The department will also be responsible for handling cases involving insulting of God, His prophets and matters considered holy in Islam, together with insults aimed at matters considered holy to other religions recognised under Shariah law, as well as the rituals of these faiths. Other religious topics within the jurisdiction of the department include opposition to the religion of Islam and its practices and rulings, proselytisation on behalf of other religions and the promotion of sinful behaviour.
In other fields, the department’s jurisdiction will cover dealing in and the promotion of narcotics and psychotropic drugs and their precursors, the facilitation of the illegal use of such substances, the transferring, transporting, depositing, storing or concealing the origins of any illegal funds, with the purpose of hiding their source, and trafficking in, possessing, acquiring and using such funds.
He noted that the establishment of the new department was evidence of the strategy of the Public Prosecution to monitor criminal phenomena, to counter and deter them in a constitutional and legal manner, and to curb the negative impact of the abuse of modern technology on the UAE’s value systems, progress, and on the social and economic interests.
He praised the Minister of Justice, who is also chairman of the Supreme Federal Judicial Council, and the members of the council for their quick response to the proposal to create the new public prosecution department. — Wam