SMS threats came after firing, ex-employee says

Former boss is accused of harassing man using text messages and e-mail.

DUBAI // A man used text messages to threaten to spread scandalous rumours about an employee, a Dubai court heard this morning.

AH, 34, from Jordan, denied the charges, telling Criminal Court of First Instance Judge Fahmy Mounir Fahmy, "this is not true".

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Prosecutors said AH sent a text message to his compatriot AHA, 42, on November 25, 2010 that read: "If you do not answer my calls, I will spread your dirty details."

AHA testified that he joined AH's company in February 2010 and that he was given several items belonging to the company, including a laptop and a number of official documents. On November 22, he said, he was fired, and AH told him to return everything.

The next morning, AHA testified, he went to the company and handed over the items but was not given a receipt. So he asked several co-workers to act as witnesses.

That day, he received the threatening SMS, he said. He testified that he also received an e-mail in which he was accused of breaching trust and told he would be reported to police.

Prosecutors attached a copy of the text message to the case file.

The next hearing will be on July 20.