Woman ‘threatened to kill Instagram friend in live tirade on social media’

Emirati woman said her countrywoman used foul language while addressing her and her family in two-minute live outburst on Instagram.

DUBAI // An Emirati woman was accused on Wednesday of threatening and insulting her countrywoman through a live broadcast on Instagram.

The businesswoman who complained about the incident told Dubai Criminal Court that the accused was her friend on the social media platform.

The woman, 45, said she logged into her account on February 22 about 1am.

“She went live for more than a minute, threatening to kill me and smash the entire restaurant where she was at the time if I ever spoke about her again,” the businesswoman said.

“And she claimed that I pulled her from her jacket and spread rumours about her.”

She said the woman also used foul language while speaking about her and her family, saying “be cursed your father” before using immoral words when talking about the businesswoman’s mother.

She reported the matter to police, who contacted the accused, an employee at a private company, on March 13 to attend Al Rashidiya police station, where they said she admitted to threatening her compatriot.

Prosecutors offered the court a memory stick containing the 1 minute, 40-second recording of the live post, which was broadcast to all of the businesswoman’s friends.

The accused, 24, was not in court on Wednesday morning to face a charge of issuing threats and insults on a social media application.

Under an amended law on battling information technology crimes, she could face jail time and a fine of up to Dh250,000 if convicted.

The next hearing is scheduled for May 30.