DUBAI // A 30-year-old student tried to get out of a traffic fine by pretending to be a member of the royal family, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.
Traffic police officers stopped a G-Class Mercedes-Benz with illegal reflective tinting on its window at midnight on July 22 and approached its driver, Emirati SA, to issue a ticket.
“The car was stopped in front of a supermarket in Jumeirah. I asked the driver for the car’s ownership card and he handed me one with the name of a royalty member on it,” said Emirati policeman SRA, 26.
He then asked the driver about his name and the driver said his name was on the card, the court was told. “I asked him for his driving licence and he told me he forgot it in his other car,” said the officer, who called colleagues for confirmation on the identity of the driver.
“When a patrol arrived, he denied he ever told me he was the sheikh whose name was on the card,” the policeman said in testimony.
“We asked him to tell the truth about his identity or we would refer him to the police station, so he insisted on saying he was the sheikh and that he has no problem with going to the station but, when another patrol arrived, he changed his story and stated his real name,” said policeman AAA, 24.
The student was charged with using a correct official document as his own and with impersonating a member of the royal family, which he denied in court.
“I handed them the ownership with the sheikh’s name on it but I did not say that I was him,” said the defendant in court.
The next hearing will be on February 11.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Game Changer
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Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
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The Sand Castle
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Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
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Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
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Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
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But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Guide to intelligent investing
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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From Zero
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Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
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