Elderly man fined for calling emergency number 971 times

Dubai: An elderly man has been fined Dh3,000 for calling the telephone operator at the police operations room 971 times, cursing and playing music for whoever answered.

The Dubai Misdemeanour Court on Tuesday fined the 72-year-old Emirati, Y.A., Dh2,000 for harassing police over the phone and Dh1,000 for using foul language.

When the defendant appeared before Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma earlier, he denied his accusations and accused Dubai Police's Operations Room of disturbing him and denied calling up 971 times.

Playing music

The accused was present in courtroom seven on Tuesday. When jail wardens were taking him to the Criminal Rulings Execution Section to pay the fine, he was heard telling the court secretary and wardens "I only have Dh2,700."

Prosecutors charged Y.A. with disturbing the authorities over the phone by calling the Operations Room phone operators 971 times, calling them names and playing music for them.

When Presiding Judge Abu Shamma read out the charges against Y.A., the defendant held his ear in courtroom seven and shouted loudly: "What? What? I can't hear well [Ana asmakh]."

An Emirati policeman said Y.A. repeatedly phoned the Operation Room, cursed whoever answered and played songs.

The judgment is subject to appeal within 15 days.