Dubai: A security guard who claimed he tampered with a parking ticket because he did not have enough coins got a lenient punishment.
The 34-year-old Egyptian had earlier pleaded not guilty and sought a clemency when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
Last week, the court sentenced the security man, M.Z., to one month in jail but the judge gave him a three-year suspended sentence.
M.Z.'s lawyer Mohammad Al Redha, of Al Redha and Co Advocates and Legal Consultants, argued in his defence: "My client is not a natural-born criminal and he's been living in the UAE for two and a half years with his wife and children and he has always been a good resident and he has a clean record. During the litigation process he admitted his charges and this proves his goodwill intentions..."
The Public Prosecution charged M.Z. with changing a numerical character on the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) parking ticket to make the time read 12.14 instead of 11.14. He was also charged with using the forged ticket.
The criminal laboratory report confirmed that the ticket had been altered with a black pen.
Al Redha also said in his defence that his client is his family's sole breadwinner and pays for the ongoing medication of his sick mother.
The primary judgment is still subject to appeal.
