Dubai court upholds verdict in gym fire case

Dubai - Egyptian defendant has to undergo three-month jail term and deportation

The accused in gym fire case has lost his appeal against a 3-month jail term given to him by a lower court.
The appellate court upheld both the jail sentence and the deportation order given to the Egyptian defendant by the primary court in May.
The Court of First Instance then found the 27-year-old man guilty of deliberately starting a fire in a bowling centre's gym where he worked, after the manager refused to legalise his status.
He set chairs, clothes and wood in the bowling centre's gym in Al Quoz on fire on February 2.
The court documents show that the man was infuriated as his boss allegedly would not issue him an employment visa to avoid paying the cumulative fines.
He was also found guilty of intentionally causing material damage after he smashed the glass, walls, windows, doors and sinks inside the washroom.
The damage, that was also done to TV sets and laptops and a printer and other property, was estimated at more than Dh156,000.
An Indian security guard said that he saw the accused smashing the glass, TV sets and chairs in the centre's gym.
A police corporal said that they put the fire out at the time when the defendant was still smashing furniture in the gym.
"He told us that he came on a visit visa and worked for the manager for some time. But the latter would not adjust his status and pay the fines."
The ruling may be challenged at the Court of Cassation.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai