Dubai: A businessman was fined for drinking alcohol after he called the police for help when his wife locked him out following an argument.
The British businessman, who was drinking at his house, was said to have been locked outside before he called up the police to help him back into his villa in August, a court heard on Tuesday.
Records said a police patrol was dispatched to the villa to check what happened when the officers found that he was drunk. Police took the defendant to the police station and he was referred to the Public Prosecution.
Prosecutors charged the Briton with consuming liquor and referred him to the Dubai Misdemeanour Court where he entered a guilty plea on Tuesday.
The suspect confessed to the presiding judge in court that he consumed alcohol but contended that he drank inside his house.
Meanwhile, his lawyer argued before the court: “My client had a drink inside his house and not outside. He went out to light a cigarette and got locked out as the door closed. When he could not open the door, he called the police for assistance. When the policemen came, they realised that he was drunk and took him in. My client did not have a criminal intention and he had been drinking inside his villa.”
The lawyer further asked the court to acquit the Briton or hand him a reduced punishment.
The businessman claimed that he had been drinking with his wife, according to records, and discussing divorce in their villa. Shortly after the discussion heated up, he went outside to have a smoke before his wife locked the door, claimed the defendant.
The Briton said he called up the police to help him back in after his wife refused to open the door and let him in.
Police records said the Operations Room was informed about a problem in one of Dubai’s gated communities before a patrol was sent to the location.
Towards the end of Tuesday’s hearing, the presiding judge fined the Briton Dh2,000.
