DUBAI // A policeman jailed after posting a video of himself on social media holding Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s passport should be acquitted as the clip caused no harm to the Barcelona star, his lawyer argued at the Dubai Court of Appeal.
Abdul Moniem bin Suwaidan, of Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants, told judges that 26-year-old Emirati J S M had permission to make the video from Messi’s business manager.
J S M was sentenced to one month in jail by the Dubai Court of Misdemeanors last month. He was detained for 21 days and suspended from work at Dubai police.
He confessed in both courts to a charge of breaching Messi’s privacy and said it was only a joke.
His lawyer requested that he be acquitted because the charge “lacks all elements of assault”.
“It is similar to the case of the two men who took a picture of themselves near the Address Hotel when it went up in flames but prosecutors dismissed charges saying it caused harm to no one, and my client also caused harm to no one. Even Messi, did he even see the video or expressed being offended by it?” said the lawyer.
The incident occurred on December 27 when J S M was at Dubai International Airport’s private jet area.
Prosecutors said he waited for the Barcelona footballer to arrive and tried to have his photo taken with him but was told he could not as Messi, who was recently named a global ambassador for Expo 2020, was exhausted from the flight.
Messi was in Dubai to receive the Player of the Year award at the Globe Soccer Awards.
The policeman noticed Messi’s passport on the control desk, so picked it up and shot a video of himself holding it.
The clip was posted on Snapchat with the caption: “This is Messi’s, he is here in Dubai, what do I do? Shall I burn the passport or just put it back! Ok Ok you can go!”
Police were alerted a day after the clip was posted online and arrested J S M.
The officer said he had permission from who he thought was Messi’s bodyguard, who was standing next to the passport control desk. The man turned out to be Messi’s business manager, according to J S M’s lawyer.
“He was standing there so I spoke to him in English and asked him if I could take a picture of myself with the player’s passport and he said yes,” said J S M.
After uploading the clip to Snapchat, J S M said that he deleted it.
“I have no idea how it got circulated. I was just kidding and had never done this thing with anyone else before. I was wrong and I promise I would never repeat such a behaviour,” said J S M.
Emirati policeman M A, 31, said that orders banning the use of mobile phones during working hours were clear.
“I don’t know why he did that, he knows its not allowed. We all would love to have a picture with Messi but it’s not allowed,” he said.
A verdict is expected to be issued on March 8.
salamir@thenational.ae
