Beggar making Dh100,000 per month in Dubai arrested
Most of the beggars come on visit visas and some are brought by tourist companies
(Web Desk) – An Asian beggar on visit visa, who was found to have made a whopping Dh100,000 in just a month, was recently arrested in Dubai s Al Quoz area. This was revealed during the launch of an anti-begging campaign by the Dubai Police, Khaleej Times reported.
According to the newspaper, acting-director of police stations Brigadier Abdel Hameed Abdulla Al Hashimi said, "Most of the beggars come on visit visas and some are brought by tourist companies who are supposed to check on people before bringing them here." He added that if the beggar caught is found from a tourist company, the firm will be fined Dh2,000 and if it repeats the action, it will be blacklisted.
Talking about the newly-launched anti-begging campaign, Brigadier Al Hashimi said that the drive is aimed at nabbing beggars and cracking down on begging during the holy month of Ramadan. The campaign - themed as Together Against Begging - seeks participation of the people and urges them to report any such practice on hotline 901.
The campaign is being spearheaded by the Dubai Police, in cooperation with the government and local authorities. As part of the crackdown, security and civilian patrols will be carried out to combat begging, particularly in areas where beggars are concentrated, including markets, residential areas, Ramadan tents, places of worship and parking spots.
Brigadier Al Hashimi said that begging is a negative phenomenon, which proliferates during the month of Ramadan when beggars cash in on people s sentiments. "The police have been striving to fight begging with intensified efforts and cooperation from the department of Islamic Affairs, General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) and the Dubai Municipality," he pointed out. He added that apart from the Asian beggar who was caught with Dh100,000, the police also recently arrested a woman who was begging, carrying a small child and a newborn baby.
