Virtual hearing launched for ‘people wanted’ in civil cases
dubai — In a big relief to people fighting civil cases, the Dubai Courts has introduced virtual hearings, the first of its kind in the region. It ensures privacy and dignity of people embroiled in financial disputes due to unexpected circumstances.
The Skype-assisted virtual hearing method titled ‘Zhara’ will cover wanted people in two categories: People against whom an arrest warrant was issued; and those placed under provisional detention at the Central Prison. The application to conduct virtual hearings are installed on judges’ smart phones. In urgent cases, judges can hold a brief hearing with the defendant even outside working hours.
The civil execution judges at the Dubai Courts has been using Zhara for the hearing sessions with people involved in financial lawsuits since July. The smart system is directly linked with the general directorate of criminal investigation and general department of punitive and correctional establishments.
“Through the new system, we are offering full privacy to the people involved,” Judge Khaled Al Mansouri told Khaleej Times.
Usually, when caught, those in wanted list are sent to the general department of wanted people at the general command of Dubai Police. The CID officers at the department produce them before the Dubai Courts the next morning. “Under the new system, the execution judge can communicate with the wanted individual while the latter is in police custody,” Judge Al Mansouri added.
“No more traffic hassles, or the need for police guards or equipped cars. It can be cases of bad cheques, money claims, business dealings. They come from all walks of life, including an employer, who faces legal battle due to a labour case.
“They would come to the court hall very often hiding their faces. However, with the new system, they remain at the general department of wanted people, and feel at ease while they are being heard by a judge.” It is also time-saving as a judge can order release or detention of the person in no more than five minutes.
“With the new unique and distinct system, we are moving further ahead towards achieving our strategic goals of having pioneering judiciary worldwide. We are realising the UAE vision of implementing the smart government,” Judge Al Mansouri said. Seven execution judges, including a woman judge and two judges for Personal Status Court, will come under the purview of the new hearing system.
mary@khaleejtimes.com