Businesswoman denies making indecent gesture
Says she was biting her nail, not flashing at policemen
Dubai: A businesswoman has been accused of flashing her middle finger to policemen shortly after dining with friends at a five-star hotel in Palm Jumeirah.
The 44-year-old Iranian businesswoman claimed that she was biting the nail and of her itchy finger which was affected by a skin disease when the policemen must have mistakenly thought she flashed her finger outside the hotel, according to prosecution records.
Prosecutors have also accused the woman, N.I., of consuming liquor apart from the indecent gesturing in public in the face of two policemen.
When she was first questioned by the police, the defendant claimed she does not drink liquor and said the hotel's chef must have cooked the food with liquor.
When the defendant appeared before the Dubai Misdemeanour Court, she pleaded not guilty and firmly denied the accusations.
Meanwhile her lawyer asked Presiding Judge Ebrahim Khalil Abu Shamma to summon prosecution witnesses to testify before the court when it reconvenes on March 4.
Medical report
Gulf News has learnt that the defendant provided the court with a medical report confirming that she suffers from psoriasis [a skin disease]. The report also mentioned that she has been under treatment for nearly seven months and that she constantly suffers from itchiness in her hands and legs.
Court records said the incident happened in September around 3.30am in front of the five-star hotel. Two policemen, who were in a police patrol, spotted N.I. jumping into the backseat of a car and flashing her middle finger in their face.
The policemen were said to have looked around to ensure whether the defendant was flashing her finger at anyone else.
The police patrol then chased the car for around two kilometres and asked the driver to pull over. Policemen asked the driver to present his driving licence and registration and asked him to follow them to the nearest police station.
Meanwhile, N.I. was sent for examination. The forensic laboratory's report confirmed that she tested positive for liquor.
‘Illogical'
During police questioning, the Iranian businesswoman strongly denied drinking liquor, saying "I don't drink alcohol". When asked about the findings, she said: "What showed in my blood must have been because of the food we ate at the hotel's restaurant. The food must have been cooked with liquor."
During prosecution questioning, N.I. denied flashing her finger at the police alleging that she didn't know the complainants. She said it was "illogical for her to flash her finger for no reason".
