Driver jailed for toilet trip in public in Dubai

Dubai: A driver faces a month in jail for disorderly behaviour and public indecency in a drunken state, including urinating on a taxi in full public view.

Prosecutors accused the Somali suspect, A.M., 42, of getting drunk and public indecency. The Dubai Misdemeanours Court sentenced A.M. in-absentia to one month in jail followed by deportation.

According to the chargesheet, the accused consumed five cans of beer before jumping up on to the hood of a taxi and urinating on its windscreen in blatant disregard for public decency.

In-absentia verdict

When Presiding Judge Ali Atiya Sa'ad summoned the defendant, the latter failed to appear in court. He was sentenced in-absentia yesterday.

Court records said the Egyptian taxi driver, A.I., lodged a complaint with the police that the defendant had urinated on his car at around 3:30 am. Police were informed that a drunken person was displaying disorderly behaviour in public and assaulting any person who approached him.

The taxi driver said he was driving his vehicle when he spotted the defendant standing in the middle of Al Rigga Street.

"When I stopped in front of him, suddenly he climbed up on the hood.

"Then he repeatedly kicked the windshield until the glass was smashed," A.I. testified during prosecution questioning.

"I went out from the taxi and stood underneath him and tried to convince him to step down.

Meanwhile, he kicked me so hard in my face that I fell down."

Court records said the Egyptian was rushed to hospital with a badly swollen cheek.

A police patrol arrived at the scene and detained the defendant.

Gulf News has learnt that the taxi company has waived its complaint against the defendant after he paid for fixing the broken windshield. He also obtained a waiver from A.I. for kicking him in the face.