Three deny fighting with police in late-night party during Ramadan

They are accused of resisting officers who were responding to a noise complaint during Ramadan.

DUBAI // A cook at the Shangri La Hotel, his wife and a friend denied resisting police officers, insulting and threatening them, a Dubai court heard this morning.

The cook CJ, a 28-year-old Australian; his wife, a flight attendant, ZW, 26, from Burma; and their Australian friend JB, 30, a cook at the Westin hotel in Dubai, told the Court of Misdemeanours they were abused by police officers.

According to prosecution records, the incident happened during Ramadan on August 20, 2010. Neighbours called police complaining that CJ and ZW were partying late and listening to loud music.

Their neighbour RA, 26, Lebanese, testified that before calling the police, he sent the building’s security guard to ask the defendants to turn down the music, but they screamed and swore at him and slammed the door in his face.

The defendants were also accused of illegally drinking alcohol, to which they confessed.

CJ and ZW told prosecutors they had thrown a small party in their apartment in Tecom, where they consumed beer and vodka.

When police came about 3am and knocked on the defendants’ door, JB who was drunk, allegedly answered and used offensive language to tell them to go away.

Another patrol was called and during their attempt to control JB, who refused to let the police inside, JB threw himself to the ground and hit his head, causing it to bleed.

An ambulance was called to offer him treatment, the records show. The couple then opened their door, dragged him inside and locked the door.

When police managed to get the defendants out of the apartment, they ran away to RA’s door and threatened him for calling the police.

“We will make you pay for this shed blood,” ZW said to RA, according to police. Records show that her husband insulted police as well.

And when police were removing them from RA’s apartment, they resisted and CJ flagged his middle finger at a police officer, then tore the officer’s uniform, the records said.

ZW told prosecutors she and her husband did not commit any of the acts police claimed, and said they had been married for two years and never been in trouble. She said when the alleged incident happened, she was asleep.

JB testified police dragged him out of the apartment when he answered the door and cuffed him.

Their lawyer asked the court to summon the arresting officers and security guard to testify, and sought to have police call records entered into evidence.