by: Hamza M. Sengendo
An Emirati immigration officer was sentenced to two years behind bars and ordered to pay a fine of Dhs2,645,500 for bribery and e-forgery.
The convict, AA, forged the electronic exit clearance records of 5,291 visitors who were in reality still in the UAE. He earned Dhs500 for forging the records of each visitor.
AA, who worked at the Dubai airport’s passport section under the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, accepted bribes to the tune of Dhs2,645,500 between August 25, 2007 to August 13, 2012.
AA abused his office and committed forgery in the directorate’s e-system, prosecutors convinced the Dubai Criminal Court.
AA’s senior, an Emirati warrant officer, revealed that AA was supposed to work in the Arrivals Hall.
“However, he illicitly used his username to execute exit records even though such records are supposed to be done by officers in the Departure Hall.”
