A mobile shop clerk allegedly ‘preyed on other expats’, extorting money from them by claiming to be a CID agent, the High Criminal Court heard yesterday.
The 23-year-old Indian stands accused of impersonating a public security officer, approaching foreign nationals to check their visa status, then demanding fines from any whose status violated residency laws.
Prosecutors charged the man with forging ID cards to make it appear that he was a member of the Interior Ministry’s Central Investigation Department (CID) and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
He was also charged with using a forged document with knowledge of its falsified nature, attempting to scam his alleged victim and only failing to do so because the victim was ‘broke’.
The Public Prosecution further accused him of interfering with civil service duties, that he had no authorisation to practice, in order to carry out an illegal activity.
The victim, an unemployed Indian, told authorities that the defendant came to him in July, presenting a military card although he was dressed in plain clothes.
“The defendant asked me if I have a valid residence permit,” the expat, who lives in Hoora, earlier testified. “I said I’m on an expired visitor’s visa, and he asked for BD200 to cover the cost of a fine.
“I told him I didn’t have any money, so he said that he’ll come back later to collect it.”
Authorities eventually tracked and arrested the suspect, after receiving information from ‘trusted secret sources’ about the alleged scam.
An ambush was set up to lure him to outside a mobile phone store in Gudaibiya. A patrol car was sent to arrest him. He reportedly tried to flee, and threw ID cards on the ground.
“I learnt from an informant that the defendant was impersonating a police officer and forged official documents,” a detective earlier testified. “He hunted individuals from the Asian expatriate community, providing the police ID to ask them for their personal information, then informing them that they’re committing a violation.
“He demanded payments, and if they didn’t respond, he threatened them with legal action. Three people seem to have fallen for the scam, but none of them reported him because they were afraid of him.”
The prosecution forwarded the CID and LMRA a copy of the cards used by the defendant, and both responded in an official letter that the cards are not real.
The GDN earlier reported that January last year, a total of 89,041 inspection visits and 1,240 joint campaigns have been conducted, resulting in 3,302 detentions and the deportation of 10,421 irregular workers.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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