Dubai: A drunk traveller lost his appeal and will be jailed for six months for beating a policeman who dragged him back into the airport’s building after he had walked into a prohibited zone.

The 33-year-old Russian traveller was drunk when he opened the door of a prohibited zone at the Dubai International Airport and walked towards the aircraft area on the runway in November 2017.

As he walked on the tarmac, a duty policeman chased the Russian defendant to stop him and bring him back into the airport’s building.

The irresponsible suspect refused go back to the airport building when the policeman asked him to do so, so the latter had to drag him back.

When the policeman was doing his job, the Russian resisted and assaulted the policeman.

In February, the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the Russian of beating the policeman and injuring him.

The accused appealed the primary judgement before the Appeal Court and sought to be acquitted.

Meanwhile, prosecutors also appealed and asked the appellate court to stiffen the punishment.

Presiding judge Saeed Salem Bin Sarm rejected both appeals and upheld the six-month jail term.

The accused, who had pleaded not guilty, will be deported after serving the jail term.

The Misdemeanours Court fined the Russian Dh3,000 for consuming liquor.

The victim said he was at his duty station when he was alerted that the defendant opened an emergency door and walked out towards the tarmac.

“The defendant entered a prohibited zone where nobody is allowed to go due to the potential risks it exposes to aircraft movement. I went towards the suspect and asked him to come back. He disregarded me and continued walking. I asked him again and when he didn’t respond, I grabbed him. He resisted ferociously and beat me. He pushed me, jabbed his two fingers in my eyes, kicked me in my belly and ran away. My injuries impeded me from chasing him but I contacted my co-workers and notified them about what had happened,” he claimed said.

The appellate ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court.