Salesman denies blackmailing Arab woman customer

Abu Dhabi - The man was charged with violating cyber law by using social media

A salesman stood trial in an Abu Dhabi court, accused of trying to blackmail a female customer by threatening her that he would tell her husband that she was involved in indecent acts.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the Egyptian man sent a threatening WhatsApp voice message to the Arab woman, asking her to give him money if she didn't want to lose her marriage.
The woman told prosecutors that the man who worked at a retail shop told her in a WhatsApp message that he would tell her husband that she was involved in indecent acts including having sex with other men. She said the man also asked her for money if she didn't want him say anything to her husband.
Prosecutors had ordered for the arrest of the suspect after investigations confirmed that he sent the threatening audio messages to the woman.
The man was charged with violating cyber law by using social media to threaten the woman and trying to blackmail her to collect money. The man denied the charges when he appeared in court.
"I don't know much about that woman. I remember seeing her only a few times at the shop where I am working," he said in court.
"The voice messages she received must have been forwarded to her wrongly because her phone number is in my contacts list, but I have never intended to threaten her."
The man also told court that his dealings with the woman were limited to his work and she owed him some money for the business.
The man's lawyer requested the court to clear his client of the charges because the woman had pardoned the man at the public prosecution.
The trial has been adjourned until October 11.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi