Abu Dhabi: A woman was arrested by Abu Dhabi Police officers while she was caught begging to raise money for her daugher’s wedding in the capital.
According to the Ministry of Interior statement, the Asian woman, who entered the UAE on a tourist visa, sat on the ground allegedly preying on people’s emotions and humanitarian spirit during Ramadan, seeking alms to provide for her daughter’s wedding expenses in her home country.
“There is no place for beggars in our society,” said Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, Acting Director of the Capital Police Directorate. He said that special teams have been set up to carry out extensive inspection campaigns to arrest beggars as part of a police crackdown to prevent beggars from seeking immoral alms and “profiteering from mendacity”, in collaboration with community members.
Elaborating on the details of the case, Colonel Borshid added that the woman expressed regret for her actions, which led to her arrest. He said: “The woman confessed to feeling ashamed but was ignorant of the fact that begging is prohibited in the UAE. She indicated that she has heard of the Emiratis’ goodness of heart and willingness to help others, which encouraged her to apply for a tourist visa and enter the country to collect some money. She also told investigators that a fellow countrywoman encouraged her and told her how she made a substantial amount of money last year through begging.”
The 50-year old woman, identified as G.B.M., a mother of four daughters, claims to be in need of money to pay for her daughter’s wedding expenses. She had entered the UAE more than two weeks ago and has already collected a large amount of cash by capitalising on citizens and residents’ sympathy, until she was arrested by competent police officers who show no leniency in countering the scourge of begging and arresting beggars.
Colonel Borshid added: “The woman expressed heartfelt regret for exploiting people’s sympathy and humanitarian spirit to make easy money; stressing that such ill behaviour is an objectionable and immoral action. She called on those who seek to profit from mendacity to refrain from such behaviour, calling on them to live poor with dignity rather than make money through begging.”
Within the framework of the “Together against Begging” campaign, Colonel Borshid called on citizens and residents to cooperate fully with the police to counter the scourge of begging. He encouraged them to report beggars by calling the Operations Room on 999 or any police station round the clock during Ramadan and through the Eid holidays.
