Prisoned in hope: Expats jailed in UAE

Not all expatriates who reach the shores of the UAE lead their lives as planned.

With dreams of making it big, a number of expatriates of all nationalities make their way to the UAE each year. Almost all want to strike it rich and lead a good life in the UAE and keep some cash for an equally good life back home after their retirement.

However, not all who reach the shores of the UAE lead their lives as planned. A huge number are caught up in circles of debts and involved in petty crimes, ending in jails awaiting help from their country missions or community welfare associations.

Each year, a number of such prisoners receives help from their fellow countrymen, many who invest their money, time and efforts to help such people in need.

Aside from the community help, the government authorities and local charities play a huge part in giving a second chance in life to such prisoners.
RELATED COVERAGE:
Life takes an unexpected turn for this Filipino expat
Lack of awareness puts Pakistanis in trouble
Officials' prison visits are a big relief for inmates
Petty crimes are what lead many Filipino expats to jails
Debts are personal responsibility

Colonel Marwan Julphar, acting Director of General Department of Punitive and Correction of the Dubai Police, said: "We consider the fact that people are involved in crimes for certain moments of human weakness that leads them to spend a part of their life behind bars.

"We are committed to the principle of giving a second chance for inmates to help them to start a new life after their sentence."

In Ajman and Sharjah, the police also have launched gestures and initiatives to release inmates jailed for failing to pay debts and blood money.

There are number of inmates who are known for their good behaviour and conduct but they end up in jail due to financial circumstances.

In 2013, the total population of the UAE was recorded to be 9.2 million. Out of the 9.2 million, the expatriates contributed to around 7.8 million with the Emirati Nationals holding a population share of 1.4 million. With a vast demographic variation, there are a varied number of nationalities who form a part of the majority of the expats, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Of this, South Asians are the biggest chunk with the Indian population standing at 2.8 million, Pakistanis at 1.4 million followed by Filipinos standing at 700,000 and Bangladeshis at around 600,000. Hence these populations have a marginally higher number of involvements in crimes.

Every day, there are five out of 10 tourist visa holders from the Philippines entering the UAE with the clear intention of working or finding a job. Some of them are illegally recruited through social media and are invited to work as household service workers (HSWs), said Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes.

According to the Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE Moazzam Ahmad Khan, "it is lack of awareness that put Pakistanis in trouble."

There are some 900-1,000 Indian prisoners in the jails across the UAE, Indian embassy's first secretary (Community Affairs) Dinesh Kumar said.

The figure, he said, is miniscule compared with the overall Indian population of about 2.8 million.

According to legal expert Ashish Mehta, the UAE is known for one of the most transparent and well managed judicial systems in the world. He said: "Every person gets an equal chance to defend himself, and as a law firm, we deal with such cases and advice accordingly."

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• Giving happiness to inmates' families

• Deserving inmates in Dubai jails get pardon, assistance

• Life takes an unexpected turn for this Filipino expat

• 1,200 Pakistanis serve different jail terms in UAE

• Officials' prison visits are a big relief for inmates

• Petty crimes are what lead many Filipino expats to jails

• Debts are personal responsibility

• UAE