Man insults woman online, fined Dh10,000 by Al Ain court

Abu Dhabi: A civil court in Al Ain has ordered a man to pay Dh 10,000 in compensation to a woman he insulted and threatened through an online platform.

The Al Ain Civil, Commercial, and Administrative Court found the man liable for damages after he was previously convicted in a criminal case for using offensive, threatening language that undermined the woman's dignity and caused her emotional distress.

The court ruled that the judgment in the criminal case was binding and left no room to dispute the defendant's culpability in the civil matter.

According to court filings, the woman filed a civil lawsuit demanding Dh 50,000 in damages for both material and emotional harm, along with legal interest at 12 per cent and court fees.

She claimed that the verbal assault, delivered via a messaging app, resulted in reputational damage and psychological trauma.

While acknowledging the impact of the abuse, the court awarded her Dh 10,000 as fair compensation for the full extent of the harm, both moral and financial.

In its reasoning, the court cited Articles 282, 88, and 269 of the UAE Civil Code, which hold individuals responsible for harm caused to others and affirm the binding nature of criminal rulings in subsequent civil cases.

The judges noted that since the criminal court had already ruled on the defendant’s actions and responsibility, the civil court’s role was limited to evaluating the amount of compensation owed.

The court rejected the plaintiff’s request for interest, stating that the awarded amount did not stem from a commercial debt. The defendant was also ordered to cover legal expenses.

Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE