20200714 dubai court
Dubai Court Image Credit: Gulf News

Dubai: An expat in Dubai who was drinking coffee publicly in the daytime during Ramadan and assaulting a policeman has landed in the Dubai Court of First Instance. Dubai Police received a call in May 2020 from a residence at Palm Jumeirah, saying a 42-year-old Egyptian defendant was being offensive to cleaners.

An Emirati policeman testified that it was 10am when he arrived at the scene and was told the defendant was abusing cleaners and security guards.

“I found him walking outside the residence with a cup of coffee in his hand,” said the 24-year-old Emirati policeman in official records.

“My colleague and I asked him to come to the police station, but he ignored the request and offered me some coffee.”

The three men walked towards the police patrol that was parked in the basement but the defendant insisted on going up to his apartment.

“I stopped him but he nearly head-butted me, then he choked me,” he said.

However, the man was restrained and taken away by the police. Dubai Public Prosecution charged the defendant with assaulting a police officer and drinking publicly during Ramadan. The next hearing is on October 27.