RTA manager jailed for assaulting policeman on duty

Dubai: A Roads and Transport Authority manager has been jailed for threatening, swearing at, assaulting and damaging a policeman's watch and mobile phone following an RTA bus's collision with a minibus.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 29-year-old Emirati manager to three months in jail.

The Public Prosecution charged the accused with threatening the 45-year-old Yemeni policeman, J.A., pushing and throwing him to the floor, defaming him and damaging his wristwatch and cell phone. The suspect pleaded innocent before the court.

J.A. said in his statement: "I was making an accident report and marking the collision site. The suspect suddenly arrived and started yelling and asking me provocatively why I had stopped the RTA bus for 25 minutes. I explained to him that a replacement bus would come to pick up the passengers. Then he asked me to speak to him in a respectful manner. I replied I hadn't undermined or belittled him." The claimant said the suspect threatened and swore at him.

"He pushed me repeatedly and threw me to the ground. I hurt my elbow and my wristwatch and my cell phone was damaged."

J.A.'s Emirati partner said: "The suspect claimed he worked for the RTA but refused to show any identification. I heard him threatening and cursing my partner."