UAE: Three students sentenced to community service over school assault

Ras Al Khaimah: The Ras Al Khaimah Second Criminal Court for Juvenile Misdemeanours has revised its earlier ruling in a school assault case involving three Egyptian students aged between 15 and 16.

The court accepted the appeal and sentenced the teenagers to 48 hours of community service at the Emirates Cultural and Sports Club. They will serve the sentence in four-hour weekend shifts until the end of the academic year.

Case details

The case refers to a violent incident that occurred on Monday, January 13, 2025, during school hours at a Ras Al Khaimah School.

A 15-year-old Egyptian student was assaulted by three classmates at around 3.20pm. According to the victim, the attack was sudden. Two boys blocked the classroom door while a third physically assaulted him.

Lawyer Hanan Salem Al Shimili, representing the main defendant—a 15-year-old boy—confirmed that the assault resulted in injuries that temporarily impaired the victim’s ability to carry out basic personal tasks. The second and third defendants were charged with aiding and abetting the attack.

Earlier judgement

Initially, the court ruled that all three boys be placed in a juvenile facility. However, following an appeal requesting a more lenient sentence, the court substituted the decision with community service, while denying a full acquittal. The revised judgement was issued this month.

On the same day, the victim’s father noticed bruises on his son’s neck and face, and learnt that he had lost consciousness during the assault. He immediately took him to Ras Al Khaimah Hospital, where medical staff confirmed visible signs of assault—including injuries to the head, neck, shoulders, and sensitive areas.

The school was promptly notified, and the matter was referred to both the police and the Social Support Centre for full investigation. A detailed medical report was issued shortly thereafter.

During a follow-up interview at the hospital, the student identified five classmates as either directly involved in or complicit in the attack. His father described his son as quiet and well-behaved and expressed shock that the situation had escalated to physical violence—particularly after repeated bullying by the main accused.

The father of the main defendant admitted that his son was involved in the altercation. According to him, the teenager claimed he had been provoked by an insult directed at his parents, which triggered the outburst. He described his son as short-tempered and acknowledged ongoing verbal tension between the two boys.

Bullying concerns

The victim’s father further revealed that this was not an isolated incident. He claimed his son had endured verbal abuse and provocation by the same student since the beginning of the school year—both in class and during breaks. Documentation and evidence of this sustained pattern of harassment were submitted to the Social Support Centre.

Key evidence

Among the most significant evidence was a 24-minute audio recording featuring testimonies from those involved. Toward the end of the recording, one of the accused is heard speaking with arrogance and a dismissive tone—showing little remorse and appearing indifferent to potential consequences. CCTV footage from the school was also submitted in evidence.

The recording supports the victim’s account and corresponds with medical findings.

Authorities’ recommendations

The case has underscored the need for early intervention when student conflicts arise and shows the critical role that families, schools, and support systems play in maintaining a safe learning environment for all.

In light of the evidence and testimonies, the relevant authorities made the following recommendations to help prevent future incidents and to support the students involved:

Behavioural Intervention: Address the root causes of aggressive behaviour among the offenders.

Parental Engagement: Strengthen collaboration with families to promote understanding and corrective action.

Increased Monitoring: Improve supervision within the school to ensure students’ safety.

Support for the Victim: Provide psychological counselling and emotional care.

Cultural Reform in Schools: Foster a culture of respect, safety, and accountability.

This case highlights the urgent need for early intervention in student conflict and reinforces the importance of collaboration between families, schools, and support services to maintain a secure learning environment.