Actress' privacy breach charge against US family rejected in Dubai

Dubai - Both parties have levelled cases against each other.

An Egyptian actress, involved in a physical assault case against a family of American tourists in Dubai, could not have an additional charge of a breach of her privacy added to the charge sheet by the public prosecution.
Tourist family didn't breach Egyptian actress' privacy in Dubai, court hears
The recent update in the case came up as no photos or videos of the 38-year-old actress Zeina could be found in the American woman and her 12-year-old daughter's mobile phones.
No such photos or footage were also found to have been removed, as per experts' technical report.
The Court of Misdemeanors had earlier returned the case, in which the actress and her 41-year-old sister are accused of physically assaulting an American tourist and his wife at a 5-star resort in Dubai, to the prosecution upon a request from a lawyer who is representing the tourist and his family.
The case was then referred back by the court to the public prosecution for a possible modification in the charge sheet.
Both parties have levelled cases against each other.
The actress had been referred to court for an incident that took place on June 29, last year. She allegedly got physical with the American family of Arab descent over taking photos of her without her approval. She claimed their daughter took them. A case was later registered at Al Barsha police station. Both the actress and her sister denied in court physical assault and verbal abuse charges.   
The tourist, who is also facing a physical assault charge in the case, then pleaded not guilty while his wife, who is equally accused, was not present in court.
Acting on behalf of the family, lawyer Awatif Mohammed from Al Rowad Advocates Office has requested the court to level an additional charge against the actress and her sister and that is assaulting the family's daughter.
She argued that the incident was witnessed by a customer at a restaurant at the resort. Her demands included that the witness be summoned for testimony.
Mohammed argued before the court that the family's daughter was left with injuries due to the incident, and said that was shown in a medical report. She added that there was no evidence that any of her client's family responded in a similar manner.
The lawyer's request to the judge panel that the actress be charged with another count of assault has not yet been responded to.
The actress did not attend the hearing on Wednesday citing health reasons while the tourist was present.
The trial will continue on April 8.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai