Dubai: A drunk traveller has been jailed for six months for beating a policeman who dragged him back into the airport’s building after he had walked into a prohibited zone.
The 33-year-old Russian traveller was drunk when he opened the door of a prohibited zone at the Dubai International Airport and walked towards the aircrafts’ area at the runway in November.
As he walked on the tarmac, a duty policeman was alerted about the incident and followed the Russian man to stop him and bring him back into the airport’s building.
The 33-year-old man wasn’t responsive and didn’t return when the policeman asked him to do so, so the latter had to drag him back.
When the policeman was doing his job, the Russian defendant resisted and assaulted the policeman.
On Tuesday, the Russian was taken into immediate custody as he was present at the Dubai Court of First Instance when he was jailed for six months.
Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said the accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment.
The defendant pleaded not guilty and denied the charge of beating the policeman.
The Dubai Misdemeanours Court had fined him Dh3,000 for consuming liquor.
The victim said he was at his duty station when he was alerted that the defendant opened an emergency door and walked out towards the tarmac.
“The defendant entered a prohibited zone where nobody is allowed to go due to the potential risks it exposes to aircrafts’ movements. I went towards the 33-year-old and asked him to come back. He disregarded me and continued walking. I asked him again and when he didn’t respond, I grabbed him. He resisted ferociously and beat me. He pushed me, jabbed his two fingers in my eyes, kicked me in my belly and ran away. My injuries impeded me from chasing him but I contacted my co-workers and notified them about what had happened,” he claimed said.
Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
