Waiter denies taking bribe from prisoners for extra meals

Suspect arrested in sting operation taking Dh110 phone recharge credit

Awaiter has been accused of taking recharge cards in the form of bribes against distributing extra meals to prisoners in Dubai Central Jail, a court heard yesterday.

Dubai Police were alerted that the 23-yearold Indian waiter, who worked for a catering company that delivers meals to prisoners, had been accepting bribes in the form of phone recharge cards against delivering extra meals in May.

As part of a sting operation, Dubai Police tasked an informant in the Central Jail to communicate with the waiter, according to records, and have him deliver an extra meal against phone credit. Police arrested the 23-year-old Indian worker in a sting operation, during which the latter was caught red handed taking Dh110 in phone recharge credit after he had delivered an extra meal to the informant.

Prosecutors accused the Indian suspect of abusing his job and taking a bribe.

The suspect pleaded not guilty and dismissed his bribe accusation when he showed up before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.

“I did not take the recharge as a bribe. A prisoner gave me the phone recharge but not as a bribe … I didn’t give him anything in return. I am innocent,” the suspect told presiding judge Shaikha Hamad.

A ruling will be heard on October 16.