Dubai expat jailed for threatening cops during warehouse inspection

Dubai - The court ordered that the defendant be deported at the end of his jail term.

A 31-year-old Asian expat has been sentenced to three months in jail for threatening police officers during a warehouse inspection in Dubai. The Dubai Court of First Instance also ordered that the defendant be deported at the end of his jail term.
The two police officers had a public prosecution warrant when they went to inspect a warehouse in Umm Ramool in August, court records show. When they reached the location, they spotted the defendant in his car just outside the establishment. He was with another man at that time.
A lieutenant from the economic crimes department said they approached the defendant and told him that they were police officers. "The accused claimed he had nothing to do with the store, saying that his friend had. He also said that the warehouse owner was out of the UAE," he said.
When the defendant could not sort the matter out with the officers, he started yelling and verbally abused one of them.
"He used a racial slur against me and said he had VVIP connections and acquaintances. He claimed he knew people on senior posts, as well as high-ranking officers, and that he had contacts at the public prosecution and could turn things around in his favour."   
The other lieutenant, who is also from the economic crimes department, added: "The defendant got angry when we asked him to accompany us to the department. He started yelling and then threatened us with his connections."
The officer corroborated his colleague's statement during the public prosecution investigation. "The defendant kept repeating that he had strong and influential contacts at the department, saying that he would harm us."  
The court ruling has been appealed. 
mary@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai