Passenger jailed for attacking policeman

dubai — A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to three months in prison by the Dubai Court of First Instance for physically assaulting a policeman at the airport.

The Uzbek man went berserk on May 31 when the officer asked him for his personal documents.

The Emirati police officer, 34, said he had orders to interrogate the accused about his ticket and personal documents. “I was questioning him when all of a sudden he asked why I was not helping him.

“He then closed the door and threw a chair at me. Then I saw him charging at me, so I got up. But then he punched me on my face. I fell down and he punched me repeatedly until my face bled. He left me when another officer walked in.”

According to the testimony of the accused in the public prosecution investigation, he was transiting at the Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1. “I was supposed to remain 14 hours before taking the next flight. However, I was held by the police because I did not carry a passport. I had been in Egypt for 10 years but they deported me because I had overstayed illegally as I had lost my passport there.

“I entered his office and he started asking me about the ticket and personal documents. I was agitated because I got deported from Egypt where my parents live. I was upset because I was held for a long time. I would never get the chance to see my family again,” the accused said.

“The officer was pushing me to give instant answers. I told him several times that I did not have a passport but only a travel document. I could not manage my anger.” The defendant admitted to attacking the policeman.

mary@khaleejtimes.com