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Emirati acquitted in Dubai firefighter impersonation case

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Emirati acquitted in Dubai firefighter impersonation case
(Representational image)

Dubai - He had confessed to recording a video of the fire and sharing it with a few contacts..

By Marie Nammour

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Published: Mon 17 Oct 2016, 5:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 17 Oct 2016, 7:27 PM

A man, who has been on trial for impersonating a firefighter after sneaking into a Dubai five-star hotel in uniform after it caught fire, was acquitted of the charge by the Court of Appeals.  
The 34-year-old Emirati had earlier claimed before the court that he was indeed a firefighter and that he volunteered that night for help.
The Court of First Instance had cleared him of the charges of impersonating a public officer while wearing the firefighters' uniform, and behaving in contempt of the efforts made by firefighters to put out the blaze that broke out on New Year's Eve.
The appellate court upheld the acquittal verdict.
He is believed to have filmed himself inside the hotel during the fire in which he claimed that he had it under control. The defendant denied having posted the clip online and claimed he only shared it with a few contacts on WhatsApp.
He alleged that he got the uniform by the firefighting team on site that night as he wanted to help.
The Emirati was arrested shortly after the incident.
During the investigation, the accused was referred to a hospital for mental examination. He was found to be 'aware of his behavior'.
A police officer said that the defendant admitted to the charge during the interrogation: "He confessed that he had used the uniform and recoreded the clip of himself, talking about how he had it under control. He also confessed that he shared it with his friends".  
The ruling may be challenged by the public prosecution at the Court of Cassation.      
mary@khaleejtimes.com


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