DUBAI // Police officers found a small arsenal of weapons and ammunition in the home of a man accused of holding a gun to a journalist's head and threatening to kill him, a court heard yesterday. A M, 39, an Emirati businessman, denies threatening the 23-year-old Jordanian journalist's life by placing a loaded 9mm handgun to his head. He also denies illegally possessing two Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles, two Norinco 9mm pistols, 50 0.25 calibre bullets, 67 9mm bullets and 700 7.62 calibre assault bullets.
Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told that A M screamed at the journalist that he would "end him, wipe him from existence and torture him". In court, A M told Judge Hamad Abdel Latif: "I did not illegally possess the guns; I was given them as a gift." The journalist told prosecutors he was assaulted in his home after threatening to make an allegation of sexual assault involving A M and two unidentified men. A M became infuriated and put a gun to his head, it was claimed.
A witness told prosecutors he saw A M pull out the gun and go to the victim's room. He said he did not hear what happened inside the room. A M was arrested three days later, on January 30. His house was searched and police found the weapons, according to a police corporal. The court will reconvene on September 5. amustafa@thenational.ae
