Prosecutors to consider charge of assault on a minor against Egyptian actress Zeina

The family's lawyer says the film star attacked a 12-year-old girl

Egyptian actress Zeina denies assaulting a family during her stay at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai. AFP 

A Dubai court has ordered prosecutors to reassess a case involving Egyptian actress Zeina to consider adding another charge against her for physically assaulting a minor.

On June 29 last year, the actress, 38, and her sister, 41, got into a physical fight with an Arab American family — a man, his wife and daughter — at Atlantis The Palm after she accused the daughter, 12, of taking photos of her.

According to court records, the celebrity and her sister also screamed at the family using “very strong language”.

Police were called and all involved were taken to Al Barsha police station.
At Dubai Court of Misdemeanours this month, the celebrity and her sister denied physically assaulting and insulting the man and his wife.

The man denied a counter charge of physically assaulting the actress. His wife, who did not attend court that day to enter a plea, is also charged with physical assault.

During court proceedings, the family’s lawyer, Emirati Awatif Mohammed from Al Rowaad Advocates, said medical reports proved that the family, including the daughter, sustained injuries as a result of the attack.

She called for Zeina and her sister to be additionally charged with assaulting the daughter but said there was no evidence to show that the family had attacked Zeina or her sister in response.
"Today's verdict ordered prosecutors to look into an extra charge against the actress for physically assaulting my client's daughter," said Ms Mohammed.
She said prosecutors were also ordered to investigate whether the wife and daughter had taken pictures or recorded videos of the actress during the incident.

A second hearing will be scheduled once prosecutors carry out their investigations as per the court order.