Husband sent insults by text

In unfortunate coincidence, subject of insults has the same family name as the director of a Dubai police station.

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DUBAI // An ex-husband accused his former wife of having a relationship with a neighbour and sent her text messages insulting him.

However, the neighbour has the same family name as the director of a Dubai police station - who has taken the husband to court.

MAT, 48, a captain in the Armed Forces, admits sending the text messages but insists they referred to the neighbour and not the station director, the Court of Misdemeanours heard.

The captain and his wife, MA, 37, were married for 10 years. They divorced in 2000 but remained in contact to resolve custody issues with their four children.

MA told prosecutors that during a troubled marriage they had come to know the staff at many police stations in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, including the Dubai station director, and that the neighbour with the same name had been "like a brother" to her in disputes with MAT.

MAT said that while he was in the United States receiving medical treatment, the neighbour had befriended his wife. On his return, he said, "I beat her up and divorced her. She spent two days after I divorced her in the man's apartment."

He denied insulting the police officer. "I was surprised when I heard the station's director had filed a case against me."

The next hearing is next month, when MA will give evidence.