Six Months’ Imprisonment and Heavy Fines for 8 Individuals Over Abu Dhabi Hotel Brawl; Those Who Filmed the Video Also Could Not Escape Punishment

ABU DHABI (Daily Qudrat): In the case of a mass brawl outside a hotel in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Criminal Court has handed down various sentences to 10 individuals. Of these, 8 individuals have been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 dirhams each, along with an order for deportation after completion of the sentence, while the other 2 individuals have been fined 50,000 dirhams each.

Those sentenced include 2 individuals who filmed the brawl and published it on the internet.

According to a report in the Emirati newspaper Khaleej Times on 13 November, the Abu Dhabi Department of Justice said that the court sentenced 6 accused to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of 300,000 dirhams each and deportation for disturbing public peace, creating fear and panic among people and endangering the lives of others.

Two other individuals were fined 50,000 dirhams each for disturbing public peace and assaulting others.

Those Who Filmed and Published the Video Also Got Imprisonment and Deportation

The court held the ninth and tenth accused in the case guilty of violating privacy by using information technology to film the brawl and publish it.

Both were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of 300,000 dirhams each and deportation after completion of the sentence. The court also ordered the confiscation of their mobile phones and deletion of the relevant video.

Thus the total number of individuals sentenced to imprisonment and deportation is 8; however, 2 of them were sentenced for recording and spreading the video rather than taking part in the fight.

The total amount of fines in the verdict comes to 2.5 million dirhams.

How Did the Brawl Start at the Hotel Entrance?

Abu Dhabi Police had said on 12 November that a fight broke out between several individuals at a hotel entrance due to pre-existing differences. On receiving information, special police teams reached the scene and arrested 8 individuals involved in the brawl.

Police also took into custody 2 more individuals who filmed the incident and handed all 10 individuals to the prosecution for legal action.

Police had made clear in their statement that strict action will be taken against behaviour that endangers public safety, disturbs law and order or puts others’ lives at risk. Citizens and residents were also urged to abide by the country’s laws and adopt responsible conduct.

The Matter Came Into Focus Through the Video of Well-Known Fighters

During news related to this incident, a video of an alleged brawl between well-known mixed martial arts fighters Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov also circulated on social media. Both were present in Abu Dhabi in connection with a sports event called Real American Freestyle.

However, according to Khaleej Times, Abu Dhabi authorities did not directly attribute the hotel incident to these fighters in their official statements. Therefore, identifying any specific person’s court sentence on the basis of the video circulating on social media would not be appropriate.

The event management also took the position of not supporting violence of this nature and said it is cooperating with the relevant authorities.

According to the management, Umar Nurmagomedov will not participate in Saturday’s event, while hopes were expressed regarding Merab Dvalishvili’s participation. In this case, the court’s verdict has made clear that in the UAE, filming and publishing a video of an incident along with a brawl in a public place can also have serious legal consequences.