Dh16.6m worth of fines paid through 'Maysara' scheme

Advocate-general Ali Humeid bin Khatem.

As much as Dh16.6 million out of Dh19.3 million worth of fines has been paid by installments through the 'Maysara' (installments) scheme by 276 violators of the Foreigners' Entry and Residency Law from 2011 to 2014.
Ali Humeid bin Khatem, advocate-general and head of the Naturalisation and Residency Prosecution, said the public prosecution has incepted radical solutions for fine settlement defaulters. "The (Maysara) scheme has given them the facilities and sufficient time to pay the fines in installments as per article 208 of the Federal Criminal Procedures Law. The initiative has been put into execution through a mechanism that necessitates that payment should happen within two years and that necessary guarantees would be given for continuous monthly settlement". In 2014, 58 convicts benefitted from 'Maysara' and paid Dh3.1m so far out of fines worth in total Dh4m. Some of them have even settled all their dues.
Bin Khatem pointed out that a smart application has been made available through which defaulters could apply to avail of the scheme and sign up after getting the approval from the chief prosecutor.
The advocate-general also said the scheme does not only aim at collecting the fines but also helps ease it up on the penitentiary establishments. "Any convict, who is sentenced to paying a fine and can't pay it completely, will be sentenced to serve six months in jail, which would eventually lead to crowded jails and an increase of costs when executing the verdicts."
Bin Khatem concluded that defaulters' problems would adversely affect their families, both financially and socially.
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