Dubai: An American naval officer was yesterday convicted of assaulting two policemen but a court granted him a suspended sentence after obtaining a waiver from the victims.
The Dubai Misdemeanours Court fined J.C., the 20-year-old American, Dh1,000 each for assaulting the Emirati policemen and consuming liquor.
"The punishment [Dh1,000 fine] concerning the assault charge will be suspended for three years on condition that the crime is not repeated within that period," said Presiding Judge Omar Fahmi Abdul Baqi in yesterday's judgment.
Prosecutors had accused J.C. of consuming alcohol and assaulting two policemen who were performing their duties.
When he first appeared in court he denied beating the policemen on duty but pleaded guilty to consuming liquor. According to the arraignment sheet, J.C. [whom prosecution records described as a soldier] beat the two policemen, A.M. and A.A., while he was under the influence of liquor.
Rights waived
The incident happened at a petrol station in Al Barsha around 11.45pm in Umm Suqeim while the soldier was picking up a McDonald's meal.
Gulf News learnt that the two policemen waived their rights and dropped their case against J.C. while the case was still being investigated by the Public Prosecution.
An Arab man [believed to be Lebanese], identified as M.J., reported to police that he was in a taxi along with the accused when they stopped at a McDonald's outlet and a scuffle ensued between J.C. and a 28-year-old Indian cook, C.M.
According to preliminary interrogation, a police patrol, which carried A.M. and A.A., arrived at the petrol station where J.C. had a heated argument with C.M. before it escalated into a fight.
The American punched C.M. on the face repeatedly. While the policemen were questioning the soldier and the cook and trying to stop J.C. from continuing to assault C.M., the American resisted and assaulted the policemen.
