NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE Dailies

Probe Begins into Human Trafficking of Racket of Indian Children

DUBAI — Jan. 11: The Dubai Public Prosecution has started its investigations into an alleged attempt at human trafficking and faking of documents by two Indians who were arrested on December 27, 2006, at the Dubai International Airport.

The two were in transit while coming from Mumbai enroute to Paris.

The 54 year-old visitor identified as A.K.S, 50, and his wife identified as M.S, were waiting for a connecting flight to Paris when they were arrested. They were reportedly carrying fake passports of two young boys accompanying them.

The data recorded in the passports of the two minors showed them to be the sons of the accused but upon questioning, the couple denied being the parents, claiming they had been asked by some people in Mumbai to hand over the children to someone in Paris.

Investigations have revealed the crime to be linked with international human trafficking racket.

The couple was referred to the public prosecution, which ordered to take them into custody for a week, starting from December 29, 2006. The prosecution also ordered them to be remanded in custody if needed.

The two minors were handed over to the Indian Embassy.

The arrested man and his wife are claiming they were ignorant of the fake details on the children’s passports.

Meanwhile, the defence lawyer, Nassir Hashim from Al Kamali Advocates office, has asked for the release of his clients on health grounds after the arrested woman suffered from high blood pressure following the arrest.

The defence advocate argues his clients are businessmen in Mumbai and do not need to commit the crime for money.

The Indian diplomatic sources in Dubai confirmed that the Dubai Police have handed over the two kids to the mission.

“The children are currently with an Indian family in Dubai and the matter is under investigation. We can comment on this issue only after the investigation report is given to us officially,” said an official at the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Rent committee clears air

DUBAI — Jan. 11: Clearing the widespread confusion, the Rent Committee under the Dubai Municipal Council has said that contracts renewed last year, or even a day before the new rent cap of 7 per cent was introduced on January 1, will not be altered.

The new rent cap is applicable only for those tenants whose contracts have not been renewed, officials have made it clear. However, those landlords who have already increased the rents last year, cannot do so this year.

Mohammed Al Shaikh, Secretary-General of the Dubai Rent Committee, said people needed to understand that if they had already signed their rent contracts in accordance with the old rent cap of 15 per cent, nothing could be done until they signed a new contract.

“But there is a way out. If the tenant talks to the landlord and the latter agrees, it can be done,” he said.

According to sources at the committee, a large number of people have been thronging the office to clear this confusion after the new rent cap was announced. “Last week, we saw over 100 people turning up almost everyday. It’s no different this week. The officials here are having a tough time,” revealed an official.

Tenants who had signed their rent contracts just a day or two before the new cap was announced, are disheartened.

“The Rent Committee must think about a change in this policy. The landlord is never going to agree,” said Navneeta Arora, a resident of Karama, who had just come out of the committee office.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Experts call for review of anti-trafficking law

ABU DHABI — Jan. 11: Legal experts yesterday called for amendments to the recently issued anti-trafficking law in the UAE to fight organised crime groups mainly responsible for human trafficking.

During a workshop organised by the Institute for Judicial Studies and Training at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), participants lauded the UAE’s efforts to curb human trafficking.

Dr Mohammed Al Kamali, Director General of the institute, termed human trafficking a global concern. Citing statistics released by the US Department of Justice, Al Kamali said organised crime gangs make a profit of around $8 to 10 billion from human trafficking.

“Opening national borders and international markets has not only facilitated easy flow of capital and manpower, but it has also led to globalisation of organised crimes including human trafficking,” he added.

“The UAE may be a transit point and a fertile ground for such gangs. That is why the country has made relentless efforts like setting up a national committee to fight human trafficking,” he said, adding that the UAE had repatriated hundreds of child camel jockeys to their home countries. A series of training workshops for law enforcement agencies were also held in this regard, he added. Customs inspectors and airport passport officers had been trained to detect forged travel documents.

“The anti-human trafficking law has come to complement and boost these efforts and the law enforcement authorities are asked to strictly implement the law against criminals,” stressed Al Kamali.

The workshop was also attended by the Head of Economic Research, ECSSR, Ahmed Mohammed Al Ustaz, the Attorney-General, Al Ain Public Prosecution, Sultan Al Juweid, and other senior officials.

KHALEEJ TIMES

South Asian workers can complete visa formalities in their countries

ABU DHABI — Jan. 11: Workers from four countries - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - will be able to complete the visa formalities in their own countries before coming to the UAE.

The decision was confirmed following yesterday’s meeting of the Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, with the officials in his ministry.  The Ministry of Labour (MoL) will set up offices in these countries, which have recently signed MoUs with the UAE, to complete the work permit formalities such as medical test, signing of e-contract as well as for providing working mission visa instead of visit visa.

“The working mission visa will be valid for six months and will be renewable for another six months to ensure that the worker can change job if he desires,” said a source at the MoL.

This step, said the source, will virtually curb the practice of visit visas. Unlike the visit visa, the work mission visa will ensure all rights to the workers such as medical care, accommodation, and the right to complain at the ministry. 

It was also decided at the meeting that the MoL will open its offices at the UAE airports to further simplify the process.

The UAE is also expected to sign similar MoUs with China, Nepal, Indonesia and Philippines, to ensure the system of working mission visas for workers from these countries.

The ministry also plans new IT systems to make the procedures faster at its offices.

KHALEEJ TIMES

MoL bans worker for refusing to take dues

ABU DHABI — Jan. 11: The Ministry of Labour (MoL) has banned a labourer from working in the country for a year after he refused to receive his financial dues from the ministry, an official has said.

A settlement between the sponsor and the worker couldn’t be reached. Hence, the MoL transferred the case to the court which asked him to collect all his financial dues from the ministry.

Omar Khory, Legal Advisor of the Disputes Department at the MoL, told Khaleej Times, “We called the worker several times urging him to come to collect all his dues such as overtime and the air ticket. However, he did not come and we do not know the reason why he didn’t turn up.”

“We call workers to respect the ministry and law and help us protect their rights,” he added.

KHALEEJ TIMES

Dubai - Wife’s huge debt

Dubai - Jan. 11: A 52-year-old woman visiting Dubai on holiday has been left with a staggering hospital bill of more than dhs300,000 she spent attempting to keep her husband alive.

She is now in negotiations with hospital authorities to reclaim the body, and to figure out a repayment method, although the two issues are not necessarily related. Nigerian Anthony Adeyemi died on Tuesday morning after two months of treatment for a brain clot, leaving behind his wife Mopelome and the huge bills. Speaking to 7Days she said: “I want my husband’s body back. But I presently do not have even ten per cent of the amount we spent to try and keep him alive.”

Her husband is currently being kept in the mortuary of the Neuro Spinal Hospital. The pastor arrived in Dubai on November 7 from the United States  to meet up with his family, but was rushed to hospital the very next day. “We were watching a football match on television and everything was fine. Suddenly he stopped talking and started shaking. He was to never utter another word,” said his tearful uncle.

Tests at the Neuro Spinal Hospital showed he had suffered an extensive brain hemorrhage and his condition worsened while in intensive care. His wife said she stayed with him day and night praying for his recovery, but his condition worsened until his death. “He did not utter another word and just left us on Tuesday,” said Mopelome.

“I want to take him back home to Nigeria and complete the final rites there. I am hoping someone will help me or the hospital will let me go with the body for now. I will  pay the hospital back every month until it is all paid.”

SEVEN DAYS

Dubai sky line - Human shaped Building?

Dubai - Jan. 11: Just when you thought Dubai’s skyline had reached its quota of bizarre ideas, along comes another radical design - the world’s largest concrete and glass, human-shaped building, complete with fabric kandura.

The latest design concept has left many wondering, ‘What next?’ for a city where anything seems possible. Speaking about the endless possibilities open to architects in Dubai, James Turford, assistant architect at Aedas, said : “There is the potential to create a truly incredible city, with the vast amount of money and space available here. “It’s really a playground of ideas, where anything - within reason - goes.”

The Burj Al Arabi building is the brainchild of AAA Group chairman Mohammed Al Syoufi, who wanted to create a concept representing national culture and identity. He said: “It will rank alongside the Burj Al Arab and similar projects as an icon reflecting both Islamic and Arabic history, something not done before.” The hotel, which will boast 35 floors of commercial offices, will also feature seven horses on a podium, representing the seven emirates and laid in the shape of the UAE .

The kandura will be made from a special fabric that allows light to permeate through and at the very top will be a boardroom for meetings - in the ‘brain’ of the building. Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of this year but it has not been launched for sale yet.

SEVEN DAYS