DUBAI // A Russian woman who drove a friend’s car recklessly on The Palm Jumeirah last year and stuck her middle finger up at a fellow motorist was sentenced to three months in jail for committing an immoral act.
But the 47-year-old was found not guilty of endangering lives and assaulting another motorist despite “changing lanes recklessly and stopping suddenly in front of my car”, according to the 41-year-old American driver with whom the incident occurred.
“I honked my horn at her and drove away, but she chased me, took over the lane right in front of me and stopped the car,” she said, adding that the defendant got out of her vehicle and walked towards her, then assaulted and insulted her.
“Another woman who was in the car came and apologised for her friend’s behaviour and told me that her friend was drunk,” the American said.
Traffic police issued a Dh400 fine against the vehicle and the woman, who gave officers her friend’s driving licence.
A few days later, her female friend checked with police about the traffic offence.
“I discovered that the defendant, who is my friend and flatmate, had provided police with my name and driving licence when she was issued the fine. So I told them everything that happened on that night.”
The defendant will be deported after serving her term.
salamir@thenational.ae
UAE medallists at Asian Games 2023
Gold
Magomedomar Magomedomarov – Judo – Men’s +100kg
Khaled Al Shehi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -62kg
Faisal Al Ketbi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -85kg
Asma Al Hosani – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -52kg
Shamma Al Kalbani – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -63kg
Silver
Omar Al Marzooqi – Equestrian – Individual showjumping
Bishrelt Khorloodoi – Judo – Women’s -52kg
Khalid Al Blooshi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -62kg
Mohamed Al Suwaidi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -69kg
Balqees Abdulla – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -48kg
Bronze
Hawraa Alajmi – Karate – Women’s kumite -50kg
Ahmed Al Mansoori – Cycling – Men’s omnium
Abdullah Al Marri – Equestrian – Individual showjumping
Team UAE – Equestrian – Team showjumping
Dzhafar Kostoev – Judo – Men’s -100kg
Narmandakh Bayanmunkh – Judo – Men’s -66kg
Grigorian Aram – Judo – Men’s -90kg
Mahdi Al Awlaqi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -77kg
Saeed Al Kubaisi – Jiu-jitsu – Men’s -85kg
Shamsa Al Ameri – Jiu-jitsu – Women’s -57kg
Company profile
Name: Yabi by Souqalmal
Started: May 2022, launched June 2023
Founder: Ambareen Musa
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: undisclosed but soon to be announced
Number of staff: 12
Investment stage: seed
Investors: Shuaa Capital
Zayed Sustainability Prize
THE BIO
BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.
