Man in the dock over accepting bribe for permit

Mahmoud Mohsen, Staff Reporter

The Sharjah Criminal Court adjourned a case in which an Arab national was charged with taking a bribe of Dhs20,000 in return for having an official permit issued by a government authority in the emirate.

While a first witness said he did not know the defendant, the complainant identified the defendant appearing in the court and claimed he was working for Sharjah Municipality.

He added that he met the defendant following a call from the latter in which he asked him to pay Dhs20,000 in return for having a permit to use an electrical transformer issued.

In her brief, the defendant’s lawyer beseeched the court to acquit her client, pleading that the statements made by the complainant to both the police and public prosecution were inconsistent, as he said he paid Dhs20,000 in the first and Dhs30,000 in the second.

Faced by the court, the defendant denied all the charges levelled against him.

He asked the court to acquit him, pleading that he never saw the complainant before and that he had quit his job in the municipality several years ago.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned the case for a verdict on March 3.