DUBAI // A homeless man who called police more than 50 times in two months to complain about traffic noises on the beach where he lived was convicted yesterday of disturbing authorities.
AO, 50, was sentenced to a suspended, one-month prison term. He called Dubai's 999 number 52 times in August and September 2010, telling officers that vehicles on the Mamzar beach in Al Qusais were preventing him from sleeping.
Records stated that the Dubai police operations room asked AO not to call the emergency number unless he was reporting a major incident. But in his testimony, AO said he kept on calling because the authorities did not respond to his plea.
"I'm surprised they took me to court for this, because I thought it's my right to call for help," he told Judge Jamal al Jubaili.
Police traced the man's mobile number and lodged a complaint against him at the Qusais police station. AO was not able to present any identification documents. AO said that cars continuously disturb him at night.
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Kesari
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Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
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TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013