Man penalised for taking photograph with mobile phone

One of two men accused of surreptitiously photographing six girls with a mobile phone-cum-digital camera was fined Dh5,000 for breach of privacy, and the other was acquitted.

In yesterday's hearing, the Dubai Court of First Instance fined Khalid M.A., a 25-year-old UAE national, Dh5,000 and dismissed the charges filed against Yousif K.S., a 21-year-old UAE national.

Khalid claimed he did not know how to use the camera in the mobile. He submitted to the court the purchasing invoice dated August 24. As he was arrested on August 25, he claimed he did not have a chance to master the use of the built-in camera.

Yousif also pleaded innocent, claiming he was unaware that his companion was photographing the women.

Six girls were secretly photographed in a restaurant on Oud Metha road.

Fatima M., who has no documents to prove her nationality, Huda A., Samira A., Iman M., Rawya A and Farida L, all UAE nationals, went to a restaurant on August 25.

Undercover policemen alerted them that Khalid and Yousif had shot eight pictures of them as they were having lunch.

Iman dropped the case on September 10. Rawya, Fatima and Farida dropped their lawsuit on September 9.