DUBAI // Nine parents involved in a fight that broke out at a child’s birthday party have agreed to drop charges against each other after they were threatened with imprisonment.
The brawl started at a party thrown by an Egyptian, 41, for his daughter at his home in Al Barsha.
During the party, the 10-year-old daughter of a friend told him that a boy had hit her with a rock.
“I went outside and spoke to the boy’s father, who was sitting with friends and told him to ask his son to not hurt other children,” the host said. “He pushed me while one of his friends grabbed my leg, causing me to fall and break my wrist.”
The guests then insulted him with a slur about Egyptian people, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.
“He told me that he had an American passport and would ruin my future and that, just as they had broken my hand, they would break my neck,” the host said.
“Then his friend, who is a doctor, offered to treat my hand in return for not calling the police.”
The American, 49, denied the accusations and said that he had seen the girl fall next to the pool. He had tried to help her but she left and returned with the host.
“He started screaming at us,” the American said. “When we told him she fell on her own, he stuck his chest to mine.
“At this point my friend tried to calm him down and my wife tried to explain, but he told her she was a liar.”
The American said the host slapped him and tried to kick him but slipped and hurt his hand, after which the girl ran to the hall and returned with other adults.
Eventually, police arrived to break up the fight.
The Egyptian host needed hospital treatment for his broken wrist and was left with a 15 per cent permanent disability, the court was told.
Five men and four women were charged with insulting and threatening behaviour.
The American and a compatriot, 47, were charged with physical assault causing a permanent disability to the Egyptian, who was also charged with assault.
The second American was charged with threatening and assaulting a woman.
They all denied the charges but the judge urged them to reach a settlement or they would face jail terms, so they agreed to drop charges.
“The case is dismissed and the civil case rejected,” the judge said.
salamir@thenational.ae
