DUBAI // A man who went berserk at the bowling centre where he worked — smashing windows, televisions and setting chairs on fire when his boss refused to change his visa status — has lost an appeal against a three-month jail term.
The 27-year-old Egyptian was working at Dubai Bowling Centre, in Al Quoz, but only held a visit visa. When the manager refused to offer him a residency visa after a few months, he started tearing the place up.
Prosecutors charged him with setting fire to the centre using a lighter, and with damaging property. The accused admitted that he smashed the centre’s glass windows, walls, doors, four sinks in its toilet and five TV screens, as well as three tables, a laptop, a computer, a printer and other items.
The damage caused was estimated at Dh156,250.
The Indian security guard at the bowling called police at 2am on February 2 after failing to restrain the man.
“He was smashing a lot of things then he poured a liquid on some of the chairs and set them ablaze,” said the guard.
Police and firefighters were dispatched to the centre, in Al Quoz, and the fire was put out.
“We saw him as he was damaging the place when we got there,” said a 38-year-old police officer, adding that when he was questioned the man told them he was destroying the place because he was angry at the prospect of having to pay the fines for overstaying his visa.
“Yes, I did burn the place and I damaged it,” said the defendant.
Dubai Criminal Court also ordered that he be deported after serving his sentence, a ruling that was also upheld at Dubai Court of Appeal on Thursday.
salamir@thenational.ae
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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