Abu Dhabi - They were taking orders on social media
Published: Thu 7 Sep 2017, 1:52 PM
Updated: Fri 8 Sep 2017, 7:22 PM
Two young men accused of selling firecrackers without a license and promoting them on social media will be deported from the UAE.
The Al Ain Criminal Court of First Instance fined each of the men from a GCC nation Dh1,000 after they were found guilty of illegally selling firecrackers and promoting them in the country.
The judge also ordered for the deportation of the men.
Official court documents stated that police had arrested the duo, who worked for a private company in Al Ain, after investigations suggested that they promoted the firecrackers on various social media sites.
The men, in their 20s, would then carry the illegal explosives in the company car and secretly took them to people, including youngsters, who had placed orders on social media.
Prosecutors had charged the men with selling firecrackers without a license and promoting the explosive materials through social media.
The men had denied the charges when they appeared in court, stressing that they were not aware that the sale or promotion of firecrackers on social media and without a license was illegal in the UAE.
The sale of fireworks and firecrackers without permission from authorities is illegal in the UAE and police have continuously warned traders to refrain from selling them.
Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used during festive days such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha as youngsters use them to celebrate the occasion.
According to police, fireworks and firecrackers can potentially cause physical damage as well as pollute the environment.
"Fireworks can start fires and thus threaten the safety of the members of the community and their property," an Abu Dhabi Police officer said last week.
Also, the authorities have on a number of occasions urged youngsters and the general public to refrain from use of fireworks and all other practices that may lead to material losses, environment pollution, or fires - putting the safety of the community and property at risk.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com