Police in Dubai have caught a man who has amassed a fortune and is also an owner of three luxury cars, as the authorities are carrying out an intensive anti-begging crackdown in the Emirates, during the holy month of Ramadan, a report by Khaleej Times has revealed.
The man, who has not been identified by the reports, is accused of fooling the public and abusing their sympathy during the day, and driving away with wads of cash as his "begging shift" concluded, in one of his luxury cars. Large sums of money, estimated to be thousands of Dirhams, have been recovered from his possession.
Khaleej Times quoted Brigadier Ali Al Shamsi, Director of the Suspects and Criminal Phenomena Department, in the matter, who said that the person used "calculated methods to manipulate people's emotions, relying on fabricated stories."
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"He masterfully crafted humanitarian details, delivering a daily performance, more than any organised profit-driven enterprise," Al Shamsi has told the newspaper. He said that more than 90% of the apprehended beggars have entered the country on visit visas, specifically choosing Ramadan to exploit the generosity of the citizens and the residents.
"One individual has collected 25000 dirham (5 lac 75 thousand INR), and still continued to beg. Despite the amount being more than sufficient to fund his return home," the official said.
In their crackdown on begging, the police in Dubai have rounded up more than 26 beggars of various nationalities. This is being done as a part of the "combat begging" campaign launched by the police force, held under the slogan of "A Conscious Society, Free of Begging".
This campaign is being implemented in collaboration with strategic partners, including the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Shamsi, through Khaleej Times, has urged residents to report beggars by calling the toll-free number 901 or through the "police eye" service available on the Dubai Smart App.
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"Beggars often use deceptive tactics to exploit sympathy at mosque entrances, hospitals, clinics, markets and streets," Shamsi said in a separate official statement, issued to the media houses.
Police have also issued a warning to residents not fall victim to online begging scams, which the Anti-Cybercrime Department has said are being used to exploit compassion in the month of Ramadan.
Begging in the UAE is a punishable offence, according to Federal Law No.9 of 2018, and can be punished with a prison term of 3 months and a fine of 5000 Dirham.
Those managing organised begging rings or recruiting individuals from abroad for this purpose face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to 100,000 Dirham.
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