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Footballer sentenced to 3-year jail for threatening compatriot

DUBAI - A renowned footballer of the UAE has been sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of threatening a compatriot.

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The verdict was pronounced by the Criminal Court of First Instance on Sunday in absentia.

As per the court records, the incident took place in the parking lot of Dubai Marina on March 19 this year, when the 26-year-old defendant, Salah Abbas Al Housny, threatened a compatriot with a revolver before firing in the air.

As per his testimony, the victim, a military man, who had just emerged out of a bar at Dubai Marina in the late hours, saw the football player --whom he recognized well-- arguing with an Emirati. As he approached them to try and make peace, the defendant yelled at him, asking him to leave the place or else he would thrash him.

Later, a friend of the footballer came to the victim offering to sort things out between the two. However, as they reached the parking lot, the victim was surprised to see the player brandishing a revolver. The footballer asked the victim to kneel down or he would shoot him. As the victim knelt down, he kicked him on his chest and then fired shots in the air, the former testified.

The 27-year-old footballer is well known for his talent as a midfielder. He had been a key player of the UAE national team, but of late, his football career has hit a slide.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE