Man in dock for threatening girlfriend on Snapchat in UAE

Abu Dhabi - The man said he was just intimidating woman but didn't mean to do anything bad to her.

 A young man stood trial after being accused of threatening his girlfriend through Snapchat that he would tell her mother about their illicit relationship if she refused to meet him.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the Emirati man in his 20s also threatened to publish inappropriate photographs of the woman if she dared to dump him.
Official court documents stated that the man sent the threatening messages to the woman after she allegedly told him that their relationship was over.
The woman also refused to meet the man again, despite the fact that he was planning to marry her.
The man took to Snapchat and sent her threatening messages, according to the prosecutors.
The complainant told authorities that the man sent her messages forcing her to meet him and threatening to tell her mother about their relationship if she didn't comply. She said he also warned that he would publish her inappropriate photos on social media.
During his interrogation, the man said he was just intimidating woman but didn't mean to do anything bad to her. He said he didn't have any photos of the woman.
Prosecutors charged him with threatening the woman, blackmailing her and violating online law.
In the court, he denied the charges.
His lawyer argued that there was no evidence to prove that his client had threatened the woman.
He also told court that the defendant, who suffered from a problem following a car accident which affected his brain, had met the woman on social media a year ago.
"They became friends and the man thought that their relationship would result in marriage," said the lawyer.
"He, however, was surprised when the woman suddenly ended all ties. But he didn't do anything bad to her or harm her in any way."
The trial was adjourned until September 18.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi