84 handed community service in Abu Dhabi for minor crimes
abu dhabi — As many as 84 people convicted in various offences have been ordered to perform community service since the implementation of the new penalty in March 2017, according to judicial authorities in Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) said the defendants had to clean roads, public squares, mosques, public libraries, carry out maintenance of public parks, work at fuel stations and do other services.
Community service replaced detention in minor crimes that otherwise do not exceed more than six months imprisonment or a fine.
Officials said most of the people handed community service in Abu Dhabi, were convicted in traffic-related cases: reckless driving; driving a car without a number plate; performing road stunts; racing on the roads and not stopping after causing an accident.
In some of the incidents last year, the General Directorate of Community Services at the Abu Dhabi’s Public Prosecution handed down community service penalties to five young men — four Emiratis and a GCC national — after a court in Al Dhafra area convicted them of various traffic offences.
These offences ranged from driving without a licence to noise pollution. The men were ordered to maintain and clean public parks, streets and serve at petrol pump stations.
In another incident, three men charged with engaging in road stunts — one near a children’s playground — were ordered to carry out community work for three months while another three men served one month for driving recklessly and racing on the roads.