Dubai: A drunken man who assaulted the cab driver upon being awakened at his destination has been penalised.
The Dubai Court of Misdemeanour sentenced the 30-year-old Briton, identified as G. J., to one month in jail and fined Dh1,000.
The court suspended the prison term for three years on condition that the suspect does not repeat the offence.
The Public Prosecution charged the 30-year-old with assaulting a government employee, destroying public property and consuming liquor.
The court heard that the suspect left a hotel in Bur Dubai where he was drinking alcohol. He hailed a cab to his destination. The driver, upon reaching the destination, found that the passenger was asleep.
Police were told that the Briton assaulted the driver when he woke him up.
G.J. told the Asian driver that it was the wrong destination. The suspect reportedly assaulted the victim and destroyed the car's side mirror.
Later, the suspect offered to pay for the damage and the driver waived the charges.
The judge suspended the jail sentence after the defendant settled the dispute with the driver and obtained a waiver from the company which supervises the cabs.
