Dubai: A man has been jailed for attempting to bribe a policeman who wanted to arrest him after he was found drunk at Global Village.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 23-year-old Filipino to three months in jail.

Presiding Judge Abdul Majid al Nezamy also referred him to the Court of Misdemeanor where he will be tried for consuming alcohol.

Records said the accused offered a bribe of Dh515 plus $1 [about Dh3.67] to a policeman to let him go after he caught him drinking liquor near Global Village.

The Filipino, R.F., pleaded not guilty to offering a bribe to the policeman who caught him drunk, as charged by the Public Prosecution. He was also charged with consuming liquor.

A 25-year-old Filipino clerk at Global Village testified: "The accused behaved and walked in a strange way ... I approached him and asked for his identification when I smelt the stench of liquor. I walked him to the police office and informed the duty officer that the suspect was drunk."

The witness claimed that he saw and heard the accused taking aside the duty officer and offering him Dh515 plus $1 on condition that he release him.

The officer informed the police and referred the suspect to the public prosecution who confiscated the cash bribe.

The ruling is still subject to appeal.