Sharjah engineer on trial for taking bribe

sharjah — A Sharjah Municipality engineer is facing trial in the Sharjah Criminal Court for demanding Dh30,000 bribe from a contracting company to clear the decks for a certificate of a building which he had inspected.

The court heard three witnesses in the case on Monday. A Sharjah Police lieutenant, who arrested the accused, told the court that they received information that an Arab engineer working in the Sharjah Municipality had asked for money from a company to remove hurdles for issuance of the certificate.

The police swung into action, laid a trap, monitored his movements and arrested the accused red-handed. The cop, who appeared as a witness, said that the photographs provided to the court as evidence showed the accused — who is in his late fifties — receiving the money. The photographs were taken through surveillance cameras located in the building.

A fellow engineer at the municipality said that the accused is responsible for carrying out inspection of buildings. His job is to give remarks about the completion of sewerage and adherence to health standards, while the other engineers would ensure rest of the requirements, he pointed out.

The completion certificate had to be signed by two engineers and only after that the committee concerned would approve it. If there were observations by the inspectors, the committee would request the contractor to make the necessary amendments to get their nod.

A contractor informed the fellow engineer that the accused was asking for bribe to cancel his observations in the report to expedite the issuance of certificate. He said that he told the security agencies in the municipality to take necessary action.

During the court hearing, the accused denied the charge. He said he asked for money as loan because he knew the complainant for over 12 years and considered him as his friend.