'Expat barges into Dubai office, demands money without any explanation'

Dubai - The defendant has been charged with trespassing, apart from blackmailing and issuing threats.

A legal consultant has gone on trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance after reportedly barging into a private company's office, demanding that funds be deposited into his account.
The 39-year-old consultant, a European, allegedly threatened four people at the metal inspection laboratory, saying they would be jailed unless his demands were met, public prosecution records show. He didn't mention any amount in his "demand" and reportedly walked into the manager's office and just sat there.
A complaint was filed at Naif police station. The defendant has been charged with trespassing, apart from blackmailing and issuing threats.
The business owner's 32-year-old wife, an Asian expat, said the defendant came to the company's office in Al Ras area at around 5pm on March 7. "He began talking to some staff and threatening them. A supervisor then called me, saying that the consultant threatened to have them jailed if funds were not deposited into his bank account," she told the prosecution investigator.
She then asked the supervisor to pass his mobile phone so she could talk to the defendant. "He then threatened me that he would get us jailed if the company's funds were not put in his account."
An Asian staff member, 36, confirmed the testimony. "The defendant did not specify the amount he wanted nor did he say to whom those amounts belonged."
The trial will continue on August 19.
mary@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai