Dubai International Airport
7 September 2020
Fourteen Dubai government officials, including six senior officers, have been arrested for graft and embezzlement They are accused of embezzling $ 1.2million in government funds. Public prosecutors are now studying the evidence submitted by anti-corruption unit with a view to filing charges against them. They will be referred to the Dubai Courts to ascertain their guilt or innocence.
The arrests followed media report that Dr. Obaid Saqr Busit, Head of Dubai Ports and Customs and two of his top aides had been amassing millions of dollars by embezzling government funds. A passport officer in the Passport and Immigration Department at Dubai International Airport’s Free Zone has been accused of embezzling $430,000. Of those arrested many are from the Passport and Immigration Department at Dubai International Airport’s Free Zone. The arrests were made in line with instructions issued by General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister.
They embezzled from the stamp revenues of the Ministry of Interior and the revenues of visas fees of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing over a period of several years.
In fact corruption is rare in UAE but these are isolated incidents in the public service. Therefor UAE Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf said that no special anti-corruption legislation was not necessary and the existing Penal Code would be sufficient to deal with these isolated incidences.
Gulf News reported.
