Beggars caught by the Dubai Police's anti-begging campaign this year thought up creative reasons to carry out the practice and con people of money.
In one bizarre case, a 'beggar' was found driving a car and begging people for money to pay for his petrol, so he could return to his GCC country. Accompanied by a woman passenger, he successfully collected money at many locations, said Colonel Ali Salem, director of the Department of Combating Infiltrators at Dubai Police's CID.
Col Salem also stated the case of a whole family of five - a couple and their three children - caught begging near a medical facility. Also nearby were two Arab sisters carrying a two-year-old, claiming the child had a disease and needed medicines worth Dh800. However, when some passersby purchased the actual medicine and gave it to them, they returned it to the pharmacy in exchange for the cash!
Other beggars claimed they were collecting funds for the construction of mosques.
There were also genuine cases. A Pakistani man, who arrived from Madina in Saudi Arabia, was asking for help near a gas station saying he had lost his wallet, and the police checked out his case and helped him out.
> 237 - beggars arrested so far
> 112 - arrested during Ramadan
> 83 - female beggars
> 67 - arrested in Naif area
> Dh20,000 - max fine for tour companies sponsoring beggars
Begging in Ramadan
The anti-begging campaign launched by the Dubai Police on April 29 this year resulted in 237 beggars being arrested so far, 112 of them during Ramadan.
Out of the 237, 83 were women. Beggars will be arrested deported and in some cases, action taken against tour companies who bring to the UAE on visit visas: these will be fined between Dh10,000 to Dh20,000, issued a warning or even have their licences suspended.
But overall, the practice of begging has seen a decline, with the Dubai Police receiving 1,400 complaint calls on beggars 2 years ago, but only 500 calls this year.
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