Photo for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Law: Up to Dh100,000 fine, imprisonment for begging

The UAE has recently issued a federal law that imposed penalties and punishments on whoever is caught begging or organizing a group of people to commit begging in the country. In the law, any person who commits the crime of begging by imploring others to grant a monetary or an in-kind benefit in any manner or way shall be liable to three months imprisonment and a fine not less than Dh5,000. However, the crime could be aggravated, considering the following circumstances: —If the beggar appears healthy or has an apparent source of living. —If the beggar fakes injuries or permanent disabilities, pretends to provide a service to a third party, or uses any deception and fraud to influence others to draw sympathy. On the other hand, if any person manages a criminal organized begging committed by an organized group of two or more persons, he shall be liable to six months imprisonment and a fine not less than Dh100,000. Anyone who brings someone into the country to work in criminal organized begging shall be imposed with the same penalty. Lastly, any individual who participates in criminal organized begging faces a Dh5,000 fine and a three-month jail sentence, or either of the two penalties. However, if the perpetrator of the criminal organized begging is the beggar's legal tutor, custodian, or guardian, or those entrusted with his upbringing or care, or those with direct authority over him, this is —an aggravating circumstance. RZSP/Expat Media
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