Driver 'assaulted female tourist'

DUBAI // A female driver assaulted a tourist who made an offensive gesture at her, a court heard today.

AA, a 24-year-old Emirati bank employee, told the Dubai Misdemeanours Court that she was driving on the right hand side of Jumeirah Road at about 5pm on January 15 when the Iranian SR, 32, began honking her horn at her, before driving alongside and raising her middle finger towards her.

The two women then stopped their cars and the bank employee stepped out of her vehicle.

"When I asked her to respect the law she told me she was a paying tourist and said that I can call the police," said the bank employee, who said that she was on the phone to Dubai Police during the confrontation.

The tourist's sister told the court that the bank employee had opened the door to their car and pushed SR twice.

The bank employee denied a charge of assault, while the tourist failed to show up to court to enter a plea against a charge of committing an indecent act.

The next hearing will be on April 14.

salamir@thenational.ae