Abu Dhabi jails 23 gambling in public

An Abu Dhabi court of appeals sentenced 23 men to six months in prison and ordered their deportation from the UAE after they were found guilty of gambling in public.

The 23 were arrested by the police during a raid near a shopping mall in the capital after receiving a tip-off that they use Friday prayers to gamble so they will not be noticed.

Deployed in three separate places near the mall, police swooped on the gamblers and arrested them red-handed near a large mall in the town centre.

“The court sentenced the defendants to six months in prison, ordered their deportation after completing their jail terms, and fined them Dh5,000 each,” the Dubai-based Arabic language daily 'Emarat Al Youm' said.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.