Dubai In a first case of its kind in Dubai, a man is facing trial after using foul language in his tweet against the Police Chief Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim.
The case against the 42-year-old Emirati, M.I., opened Wednesday with the defendant arguing that he was not guilty. He said: "I am not guilty. I did not mean to use such language against Lt Gen Dahi, but I meant his entourage [some of the people who work under his command]."
The accused told the Dubai Misdemeanours Court yesterday that he repeatedly requested to meet the plaintiff, but he was constantly refused.
According to the charge-sheet, M.I. is accused of cursing a public servant (Lieutenant General Dahi) and asked for the implementation of Article 374 of the Federal Penal Law.
Maximum punishment
Article 374 stipulates a maximum punishment of three years in jail or Dh30,000 fine if a person curses a public servant because of his/her post.
Gulf News has learnt that Lt Gen Dahi had earlier waived a similar complaint against M.I., but the accused's repeated use of foul language on the police chief's Twitter account forced him to take the matter to the court.
Judge Ali Attiyah Sa'ad rejected M.I.'s request for bail and adjourned the case to March 11.
