Dubai: A Dubai Police officer claimed that he was defending a woman from being harassed when he pushed a man away from her without intending to break his leg.

Prosecutors accused the 33-year-old Emirati police major of assaulting a 38-year-old Moroccan man and causing him permanent disability in his leg. The Moroccan was charged with assaulting the major and ripping of his chemise.

"I am not guilty. And what I did was the right thing to do… what has happened to our community. Is it not allowed to defend anyone and especially women! I am confident that I did the right thing when I defended that Moroccan woman. The other suspect disrespected her and wanted to grab her by force… I intervened and pushed him away to prevent him from harassing her. He fell on his own," argued the major when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan defendant argued before Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi: "No. I did not attack him. On the contrary he is the one who pushed me and I fell and injured my leg. I am still getting treatment till today."

According to the arraignment sheet, the major assaulted the Moroccan man and unintentionally caused him 15 per cent permanent disability. The Moroccan suspect assaulted the major and ripped off his chemise without causing him injuries.

"The incident took place while I was attending a celebration at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The Moroccan suspect came to the woman… he spoke to her badly. When he tried to grab her with force, I prevented him and pushed him away. When he was in the ambulance he looked at me and said he was hurt and that he wanted money against his injury. What sort of men does such a thing!" the major told the court when he defended himself in courtroom seven.

The woman, an executive assistant, testified that her countryman suspect was drunk when he spoke to her during the celebration.

"He was drunk. He tried to pull me from my arm and said he wanted to speak to me. I refused. Five minutes later, he returned and cursed me… when he tried to assault me and pull me, the major stopped him. The Moroccan man fell on the floor and hurt himself. When police came, he also gave me a sign that he would slitter my neck," she claimed.

A verdict will be heard on April 25.