ABU DHABI // A European couple appeared in court yesterday charged with adultery and consensual dishonour for a greeting kiss. IK, the woman involved in the kiss, pleaded guilty at the Criminal Court of First Instance to consensual dishonour, while ZV, the Russian man involved, is facing the more serious charge of adultery. IK was asked by Judge Syed Abdul Baseer whether they had kissed.
She replied through the court translator: "It's a normal greeting." "Maybe it's normal in Russia," Judge Abdul Baseer said. Why the two were facing different charges was unclear. IK denied smoking hashish but pleaded guilty to a charge of drinking alcohol. Two other defendants, AS, a Russian man, and AR, a Moldovan woman, also denied using drugs. ZV, AR and another defendant identified only as S denied consuming alcohol.
Their defence lawyer, Abdul Qader Ghazal, asked the judge to postpone the proceedings to allow the defence to prepare its case. Judge Abdul Baseer granted an adjournment until August 16, when more details of the alleged offences are likely to emerge. newsdesk@thenational.ae
