Man blames temper, coffee for insulting UAE leaders

An Emirati accused of verbally insulting the President, Vice President and Crown Prince in his workplace said he had no motive to do so.

ABU DHABI // A man told the Federal Supreme Court it was possible that his hot temper and family circumstances led him to insult UAE leaders.

Emirati E S, 48, is accused of verbally insulting the President, Vice President and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in his workplace.

He denied the charges and blamed his excessive love for coffee for his outbursts.

E S said he had no motive to insult the leaders, and that there was no audio or video evidence against him.

“I have an anger issue, and it is because I spend a lot of energy and effort in working for the company, even after regular working hours,” he said.

“I could have been in a phase of unconsciousness and unawareness that led to me saying things I didn’t mean and don’t remember to my colleagues.

“One reason for my anger is my son’s medical condition. He is severely autistic and he is abroad for medical treatment with his mother.”

E S said he had worked for the same company for 19 years, and was recently promoted.

He asked the court to take his emotional, medical and familial circumstances into consideration, and give him a lesser sentence should it convict him. The verdict will be announced on May 18.