Students face jail for vandalising cars

DUBAI // Three students face jail terms of up to five years each if they are convicted of vandalising two luxury cars, causing more than Dh15,000 (US$4,100) of damage. The three Emiratis, AA, HD, and MM, were charged yesterday with breaking the windscreens, lights and windows of a Lexus LS 400 and a Porsche Cayenne that belonged to an immigration official and his sister. According to court documents, they carried out the attacks in October 2007 at the home of the victim, causing Dh15,690 in damage. They told prosecutors their motive was that NS, the immigration officer and owner of the Lexus, had "flirted" with AA's sisters earlier the same evening at Mall of the Emirates.

NS told prosecutors that on the evening of the vandalism he was called by HD and MM. "They asked me if I left the Mall of the Emirates and by when would I arrive home," he said. "I told them I was already home, parking my car in front of my house." NS said that when he arrived home he saw three or four cars pull up in front of his house. He said he then saw the defendants run towards him in an aggressive manner. "They seemed to be wielding either swords or sticks at me while they were running," he said.

He told prosecutors he jumped out of the car, ran inside his house and locked the door. "I then heard sounds of my car being smashed," he said. The presiding judge, Hamad Abdel Latif, said he would deliver his verdict on November 19. In addition to jail time, the trio face a maximum fine of Dh10,000.
[e-mail]