Man who rammed wife's Hummer into Dubai police car has jail term reduced

The six-month sentence is reduced to three months by the Dubai Court of Appeal.

DUBAI// A man who rammed his wife's Hummer into a police car during a high speed chase has had his jail sentence halved by the appeal court.

HM, a 23-year-old Emirati, caused Dh145,600 in damage to a police car in the smash on Sheikh Zayed Road on July 25, 2010. When the Dubai Criminal Court sentenced him to six months in prison last December, he responded by saying: "That's it?"

The Dubai Court of Appeal reduced his sentence to three months this morning.

HM was charged with assaulting his wife, MA, 25, endangering her life and that of police officers, driving MA's car recklessly and jumping a red light.

The assault charge was dismissed after HM reached a settlement with his wife.

Records stated that as MA was leaving work her husband got into her white Hummer, slapped her and took the wheel before speeding off along Sheikh Zayed Road. A police patrol spotted him and gave chase.

WN, one of the police officers who chased the defendant, testified that HM drove on pavements and rammed into a police car from the side and back.

He added the defendant only stopped when he reached his home. The officer tried to arrest HM but the defendant's brother, AM, 26, assaulted him, said court records.