Dubai court issues arrest warrant against Syrian music icon

Dubai: A judge has issued an arrest warrant against music diva Asala Nasry to ensure compliance with a civil court judgment ordering her to pay more than Dh500,000 to a businessman.

The Syrian music icon is to be produced before Dubai Courts' Section of Judgments' Implementation and Urgent Matters in connection with the Dh542,570 in compensation awarded to an Emirati businessman for breach of contract, according to a verdict issued by Judge Mohammad Masaad Al Sharif on Sunday.

The Dubai Appeals Court had earlier ordered Nasry to compensate the businessman, A.M., after she was found to have breached a mutual contract. Nasry's legal representative in the UAE had signed a ten-year renewable business contract with the businessman.

The dispute arose after the two parties agreed that A.M. would manage Asala's events and produce 20 albums and pay her $5,000 (about Dh18,350) for each album.

Decision contestable

The businessman was to shoot two music videos for each album, according to the contract, which was notarised before the notary public in a Dubai court.

"After the judgment became irrevocable, we appealed to the Section of Judgments' Implementation and Urgent Matters to carry out the verdict. Upon the judge's request, we presented a copy of defendant's passport. The judge issued the arrest warrant so that the defendant would be brought in to implement the judgment and pay the compensatory amount," A.M.'s lawyer Abdul Moniem Bin Suwaidan told Gulf News on Monday.

According to the Civil Procedures Law, Nasry can contest the court's decision and submit a plea to suspend the arrest warrant for a temporary grace period (between 45-60 days) and to carry out the judgment.

Bin Suwaidan said: "The contract said Asala should obtain the businessman's written permission if she wanted to perform with another party and she had to pay him 50 per cent of the profit. The agreement contained a penal clause that obliged either party who breached the contract to pay $5 million [Dh18.3 million] to the other party."

A.M. sued Nasry for Dh18.35 million.

Bin Suwaidan mentioned, in his lawsuit, that the defendant performed in several shows and signed two contracts with two music production companies, which agreed to produce three albums.

"She agreed with those companies that she wouldn't deal with other parties until the albums are produced. She signed the agreements for revenue of $1.2 million over three years. Asala breached the contract which she signed with the businessman. We sent her a legal notice to warn her, but she didn't respond," argued Bin Suwaidan.

Nasry's legal representative asked the Appeals Court to cancel the primary judgment and dismiss the case.