Dubai: A couple have been accused of beating and injuring a technician after the woman posed for a selfie beside him while he snoozed on sofa at a building’s lobby.

The 54-year-old Swedish technician was said to be fatigued when he sat on a sofa and napped while he was waiting for his wife, who was in the washroom, at the lobby of a tower in May 2016.

While snoozing, the Swedish man suddenly felt like someone had slapped him and when he opened his eyes, according to records, he saw a group of British persons laughing at him and walking out of the lobby.

The 54-year-old followed the persons outside the building and asked them to stop because he wanted to call the police.

It is believed that the Swedish indulged in a heated argument with British group of friends, who knew each other, before he was assaulted and thrown down on the floor.

Among the group were a few women who also assaulted the technician and scratched his face with their nails, said records.

The 54-year-old reported the matter to the police and primary interrogations exposed the involvement of a 21-year-old British woman and her 26-year-old countryman in the assault.

Prosecutors accused the 21-year-old woman and the 26-year-old man of assaulting the Swedish and causing him a 1 per cent permanent disability in his nose.

According to the accusation sheet, prosecutors said British suspects and two other unidentified suspects assaulted the technician who sustained bruises and nail-scratches aside from a fractured nose.

The British couple failed to appear before the Dubai Court of First Instance where they were scheduled to enter their plea on Monday.

Presiding judge Urfan Omar adjourned the trial until the suspects are legally notified about the next hearing on July 19. The technician claimed to prosecutors that the incident happened shortly after he napped on a sofa while waiting for his wife.

“I felt someone slapped me. When I opened my eyes, I saw a group of Europeans looking at me and laughing … I followed them outside the building. When told them to stop because I wanted to call the police, they grouped up against me. They beat me and some of the women scratched me with their nails. One of the women took my sunglasses … then the male suspect jumped into a taxi and left. Suddenly I felt a strong blow on my nose and I couldn’t recognise if someone had headbutted me or punched me. Some with tattoos also grabbed me by my neck,” he told prosecutors.

A witness told prosecutors that he spotted the 21-year-old seated beside the sleeping technician and her friends were taking photos of her.

“I followed the Swedish to give him his phone that he had forgotten behind him when he chased the group outside. I saw them assaulting him,” the witness testified.

A police lieutenant told prosecutors that the suspects were seen on CCTV taking photos of the sleeping man who later chased them outside.

The trial continues.