DUBAI // A man was fined for telling people on WhatsApp and Facebook that a Syrian had harmed people in his homeland and caused the death of his own son.

Fellow Syrian G A, 34, was charged at Dubai Court of Misdemeanours with abusing telecommunications by insulting and defaming A S.

The victim told prosecutors: “He sent messages to common friends saying that I was causing great harm to people in Syria and that I also caused the death of my own son then fled to Dubai to escape punishment of the Free Army in Syria.”

He said that the messages carried accusations of sorcery and included details of a case he was involved in at Dubai courts.

“No one knew about the case but him,” said A S. “He also said in his messages that I assaulted a police officer in Dubai and even got my own kids against me.

“He also said I came to Dubai to con people and scam them, and that I conned him out of Dh1 million.”

The victim found out about the messages from a friend in Kuwait who was receiving them.

The defendant denied the charges when questioned by police, saying that he knew about the court case only through A S’s son, but that he had not told anyone about it.

“I did not send any messages,” he said.

The court was shown copies of all the messages sent by the defendant. He was convicted and fined Dh3,000 in absentia.

salamir@thenational.ae