Homeless man convicted for 999 calls

A homeless man who called Dubai police more than 50 times in two months to complain about traffic noises on the beach where he lived is convicted of disturbing authorities.

DUBAI // A homeless man who called police more than 50 times in two months to complain about traffic noises on the beach where he lived was convicted yesterday of disturbing authorities.

AO, 50, was sentenced to a suspended, one-month prison term. He called Dubai's 999 number 52 times in August and September 2010, telling officers that vehicles on the Mamzar beach in Al Qusais were preventing him from sleeping.

Records stated that the Dubai police operations room asked AO not to call the emergency number unless he was reporting a major incident. But in his testimony, AO said he kept on calling because the authorities did not respond to his plea.

"I'm surprised they took me to court for this, because I thought it's my right to call for help," he told Judge Jamal al Jubaili.

Police traced the man's mobile number and lodged a complaint against him at the Qusais police station. AO was not able to present any identification documents. AO said that cars continuously disturb him at night.