Bootlegger jailed for dragging Dubai cop behind his moving car

He behaved aggressively towards the police corporal and did not follow his instructions.

A bootlegger, who drove his car and deliberately pulled a police officer behind him to evade arrest, while he was handcuffing him, has been sentenced to six months in jail by a Dubai court. 
The Court of First Instance was earlier told that the 26-year-old Indian man, who is a salesman, was caught with a large quantity of alcohol at the time of his arrest.
He behaved aggressively towards the police corporal and did not follow his instructions. He instead drove his car while the officer was still trying to handcuff him. The man dragged the officer behind the moving car, injuring him.
Over 56 bottles and 84 cans of alcohol were found with him then. He was planning to sell the liquor to others.
The man pleaded not guilty in court to a charge of assaulting an on-duty police officer. However, he admitted that he possessed alcoholic drinks with the intention to sell.
The court ordered his deportation after completion of his jail term and that the seized liquor is confiscated.
He was taken into custody by the Jebel Ali Police on August 6.
The police corporal said that he and a colleague were patrolling an area in Jebel Ali at 11:00pm when they spotted a car. "We asked the driver to stop his car. The man with him jumped off and fled the place." 
The officer recounted how he had just put the cuffs in the driver's left hand and was surprised by the latter moving the car.
"I slipped off and was dragged for a short distance as I was still holding the cuffs. The defendant fled the scene about 100 meters away after his car hit a metallic barrier.
"My colleague called for back-up and the accused, who was still handcuffed, was apprehended shortly later in the same area. I went to hospital for treatment," the officer told the prosecutor.
A medical report showed the police corporal suffered an injury and a swelling arm because of the assault.
The other cop corroborated the corporal's testimony during the public prosecution investigation. He told the prosecutor how his colleague was dragged for a few meters and had to let go of the handcuffs after he got injured.
The ruling remains subject to appeal.
mary@khaleejtimes.com