Pakistani in UAE jailed for spying

Abu Dhabi, Sep 12 (IANS/WAM) A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sentenced a Pakistani man to three years in jail on charges of spying.

The accused, identified only by his initials GMA, confessed in the Federal Supreme Court here that he had delivered sensitive information to an intelligence officer working in a foreign embassy after which the court sentenced him to jail Wednesday.

GMA, who was working as a driver in a UAE government institution, had maintained ties with the intelligence officer who then asked him to take photos of officials and visiting delegations at the place he worked in.

The Pakistani confessed in the court that he had given information to the foreign intelligence officer about visiting delegations for which he was paid 30,000 dirhams (around $8,170).

He also said that he used to visit the embassy regularly to meet the officer.

The court ordered that GMA be deported from the UAE after he served his prison term.

Meanwhile, in another case, the court acquitted an Iranian national who also faced similar charges after finding no tangible evidence against him.