DUBAI // An American woman who lost her temper while hurrying to catch a flight back to the US in August has been stuck in the city ever since. Now she will spend another month in Dubai - in prison.
J D, 32, had been hired to train police in Iraq and was transiting through Dubai International Airport on her way home to the US when she shoved an officer, cursed at two others, damaged airport property and made an indecent suggestion as to where the arresting officers could put their handcuffs.
Yesterday, she was sentenced to a month in jail for insulting and assaulting public officials and ordered to pay Dh1,188 for damaging a special needs door at the airport.
According to public prosecution records, the incident began at 10pm on August 29, when J D was routinely stopped and searched at the airport.
According to Corporal Amal Hussain, the woman was in a hurry and demanded to be let through quickly.
The female officer told prosecutors that she was in the middle of searching another passenger and the American started using foul language and shouting.
"She dumped all her belongings in front of us, screaming profanities and using bad language," she said. "My colleague came to warn her and tell her not to lose her temper but she started shoving and screaming."
J D gave prosecutors a different version of events: "I asked them to hurry up as I was late," she said. "But the two officers were talking loudly and laughing at me - so I lost it and used foul language."
Police searched her luggage and found a pocketknife, which J D told prosecutors she had had forgotten was in her handbag .
J D was then escorted by an officer to the airport police office. She shoved the officer, resulting in further assault charges.
"I did not assault anyone," J D told prosecutors. "When I was being taken away, I asked the officer for my passport back and he ignored me. Then I pushed his back trying to get his attention."
Corporal Abdel Hamid Farhan of Dubai Police told prosecutors that while he was taking the woman to the office she tried to snatch the passport from him. He said she then forcefully pushed him on to a door. "I had to call the female officers to restrain her," he said.
amustafa@thenational.ae
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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