Dubai: A Syrian saleswoman was fined Dh2,000 for calling a traffic police officer ill-mannered after arguing with him over a traffic violation.
The Dubai Misdemeanour Court fined 28-year-old R.S. after finding her guilty of cursing a policeman in public.
When R.S. appeared in court she pleaded not guilty and denied cursing the Emirati traffic policeman. Her lawyer Saeed Juma Al Suwaidi asked the court to dismiss the case and acquit his client for lack of any criminal intention.
"My client is innocent… she did not curse the policeman. Actually he is the one who provoked her. He spoke to her in an irritating manner and was very confrontational. What happened is that after the policeman issued her the ticket, she was discussing the matter with him," Al Suwaidi argued.
"She told him that she had dealt with ‘polite policemen'. Then he replied provocatively ‘Do you mean I am impolite?' and my client was seriously provoked and she said ‘Yes'."
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors first accused R.S. of belittling the policeman. However when the case came to court, the public prosecution representative asked the judge to change the charges from belittling a policeman to cursing a policeman in public.
The prosecution representative asked for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable — a maximum two years in jail and/or a maximum fine of Dh20,000.
The Emirati policeman claimed that he spotted the saleswoman using her mobile phone while driving. He asked her to pull over and wait in the car.
"I took her driving licence and car registration and went to the police car to issue the ticket… she came out of her vehicle and walked towards me," the policeman said.
"When she asked me why I booked her, I asked her to stay in her car. Then she told me that she had spoken with ‘polite policemen'. When I asked if she meant that I am impolite, she said yes. Thereafter I reported the matter to the police and she was taken to the police station."
