No-show officers fined Dh1,000
Dubai // Five police witnesses in three separate court cases were fined by a criminal court judge for failing to appear and give evidence yesterday.
Judge El Saeed Bargouth of the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance fined a captain, a lieutenant, a corporal and two policemen Dh1,000 each in the course of the session, and criticised them in their absence.
"Is this the international day for absconding from testimony?" the judge asked before the court adjourned.
Three police witnesses in a murder and prostitution trial, who had previously been fined by the court, failed to appear again, forcing the judge to grant bail to a woman who had been in prison awaiting trial since February.
A judge may fine and/or issue arrest warrants for witnesses to present testimony, under federal law.
A total of 12 police officers were expected to give evidence in six cases in the court's Chamber Four. Only one presented his testimony as scheduled.
The murder case involved two Afghan men charged with the premeditated killing of an Uzbekistani prostitute.
The court adjourned the trial to January 4.
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