NEWS FROM THE UAE
Excerpts from UAE MEDIA
Sharjah CID nabs gang forging credit cards
SHARJAH - MAR 13: THE Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sharjah Police succeeded in arresting a gang comprising of middle easterners who were specialised in forging credit cards and using them in purchasing items from various commercial outlets in Sharjah and other emirates.
The CID team found 30 forged credit cards in possession of the two men and a woman who are the gang members.
The CID received information from a confidential source regarding the illegal act of the gang and soon a team was formed to trace out the moves of the gang.
According to a CID official: "One of the gang members NFS, the only woman in the gang was caught red handed while attempting to buy electronic items from one of Sharjah shops through a forged card. During interrogation she confessed that she along with the other gang members were using the credit cards to purchase items.
The CID intensified inspections till they arrested the other two members of the gang AAA and TAH. 25 forged credit cards were found in possession of the first person and five credit cards in procession of the other person."
The official added: "During interrogation we found out that they used to forge credit cards of people after checking their account date and that they also forged their identity cards. Theses fraudsters were referred to the Public Prosecution.
The CID official warned credit card holders from taking precautionary measures while purchasing by their credit cards and that they should never give their personal date to strangers.
"Credit card holders should always retain the receipt they receive from the bank machine in case they withdraw money from their bank account.
The papers offer details about the current bank account of any person and the withdrawn amount of money and people should immediately discard or store them safely after withdrawing the money.
People should never use their credit cards in unknown places and they should only use it in prominent outlets.
I urge people to frequently check their bank accounts to ensure they are not the victims of credit card forging." The CID official added.
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Terrible Tuesday - Better late than never
Minister for Interior expresses grief over accidents
ABU DHABI - MAR 13: SHEIKH Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Interior expressed regret over traffic accidents that occurred on Abu Dhabi-Dubai road, resulting in major injuries and deaths.
The accidents occurred due to heavy fog and lack of adequate attention from drivers, which led to an unprecedented number of crashes.
The minister called on the road users to be more cautious during the morning as there is lack of visibility.
He praised the speedy response and the level of co-operation and co-ordination shown by all those involved in rescue operations and casualty evacuation, , Which led to reducing the number of deaths to ensure public safety and to re-open the road in front of travellers in record time.
The minister added that the Ministry of Interior always wants safety for all.
Talking about the road users he said they ensure their safety. They must deliberate, and focus attention while driving as a delay of a few minutes is far better than the tragedies and remorse.
Police, civil defence, support teams rushed According to Colonel Othman Al-Tamami Chief of the Department of Emergency and Safety at Abu Dhabi police, the Central Operations room received a tip-off at 6:39am on Tuesday morning about accidents and traffic consecutive clashes on the road from Bahia Bridge to Ghantoot Bridge.
Emergency vehicles, ambulance and rescue of Abu Dhabi Police rushed to the scene.
Fire engines of the Civil Defence Department, two helicopters from the air wing and Dubai Police, support teams from the armed forces and a number of traffic patrols reached the spot.
The rescue teams began work to ensure the safety of the injured and pedestrians. Firemen quelled the fires that broke out in a number of crashing cars.The injured were evacuated and transported to the nearest hospitals in record time.
Rescue operations last four hours Initial results stated the death of three persons and about 277 injured, of various nationalities. As many as 130 Injured were transferred to Al Mafraq hospital, 10 of them sustained major injuries, 20 medium and 100 minor.As many as 4 major cases, 32 medium and 100 minor cases were taken to Al Rahba hospital. One major case was taken to Dubai hospital.
Colonel Adil Hamad Al Shamsi Chief of the Traffic and patrols Department said that injured rescuing and evacuation took only four hours despite the major obstacles that faced rescue teams because of the bad weather and the crash of 12 large vehicles, which led to the closure of the road in front of rescue vehicles which could hardly each places of fires and injuries.
Shamsi requested external road users to take caution, especially during the early morning hours.
He asked them to leave sufficient distance between cars, not to be speedy and to give warning signals when necessary.
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Nationals may get food, fuel discount
DUBAI - MAR 13: The UAE is considering a plan to provide nationals discounts on 14 food items, gas and cooking fuel to help offset inflation, according to the head of a consumer protection body.
The UAE cabinet is studying a plan, which will allow UAE nationals to buy rice, bread, tea, sugar, milk, butter and other basic food items at cost, said Jamal Al Saeedi, executive manager of the Emirates Society for Consumer Protection. "There is too much inflation and it is hitting households," Saeedi said in an interview.
"People cannot live without these items so we are looking for a way to reduce the costs." The plan would benefit only UAE nationals. Under the proposal, the Ministry of Social Affairs will provide nationals with cards they can use at 16 co-operative supermarkets in the country to be eligible for the discounts, Saeedi said.
Reuters
Man accused of raping handicapped woman
DUBAI - MAR 13:A man brutally raped and sexually assaulted a mentally handicapped young woman three times with the help of a housemaid who was supposed to help look after her, a court heard yesterday. The Indian suspect, 39, is alleged to have first approached the victim last October after her family had gone out when the housemaid is believed to have let him in.
“He entered the house and told me that he loved me and wanted to have sex with me but I refused,” the 26-year-old victim said in the court records.
“He hugged me and kissed me but I pushed him away and he left, warning me not to tell anybody.” The next day the suspect is alleged to have returned to the house, where he began pestering the woman again.
She says she escaped to the maid’s room but the man followed. “He locked the door and raped me. Then I saw him giving the housemaid dhs100 and a mobile phone card,” the victim said. The man is alleged to have returned twice, raping the woman on both occasions, before she told her mother.
The man denies the rape charges while the housemaid denies assisting him. The trial has been adjourned until later this month.
SEVEN DAYS