DUBAI // Football superstar Lionel Messi could be summoned to appear in a Dubai court after a policeman jailed over a video with the Barcelona striker’s passport launched an appeal.
“One of our rights in defence is to subpoena the harmed party and ask them questions. This is something that we are considering in our strategy,” said Abdul Moniem bin Suwaidan, of Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants.
On Monday, the Dubai Court of Misdemeanors found J S M, 26, guilty of breaching the Argentine’s privacy. He was sentenced to one month in prison.
The Emirati, who worked at Dubai International Airport’s private jet section, took footgage of himself holding Messi’s passport and the video was widely circulated online.
“This is Messi’s passport. He is here in Dubai. All his affairs are in currently in my hands,” he said in the video. “So what should I do? Should I burn the passport or just put it back? OK, Messi. You are forgiven. You can go!”
Messi arrived in Dubai on December 27 to collect the Globe Soccer Award’s prize for best player. He has not commented on the incident. The first hearing in Dubai’s Court of Appeal is scheduled for March 1.
nalremeithi@thenational.ae
