Official jailed for misuse of power

sharjah — A top official got one year in jail and a fine of Dh174,000 for awarding contracts illegally to companies by abusing his position, profiting from it and harming the interests of a government department in Sharjah.

The Sharjah Criminal Court charged the Arab government official with bribery along with two other Asians.

The court ordered a threemonth jail and a fine of Dh65,000 for the second convict while the third convict got six-month jail and a fine of Dh109,000.

The details of the case came to the light when the Sharjah Police received an information from secret sources saying that the official, who was heading the permits department,was gaining money by granting special tenders for environmental studies to certain companies.

The police investigation found that his income exceeded his salary, bought a new apartment, owned an expensive car and exported another expensive car to his home country.

During the court hearing, presided by Judge Mahmood Abu Baker, a police captain who worked at preventive security department at the Sharjah Police, testified that the police received the tip-off and the prime suspect awarded tenders to the companies owned by the second and third accused.

During the police and prosecution interrogation the second and third defendants, confessed that first defendant had received money from them through his relative who transferred the amount to the official.

The witness told the court that the first defendant had admitted to taking bribe during the police interrogation. The court has also ordered deportation of the three convicts after the completion of jail term.