UAE BARQ برق الإمارات – نبضك
Abu Dhabi Misdemeanor Court has convicted a social media celebrity for driving his vehicle on a public road, recklessly, at speeds exceeding 205 kilometers per hour, putting his life and the lives of road users at risk. The court also convicted a second defendant in the case for participating in the crime by agreement and incitement with the first accused, by filming him and asking him to drive at high speed with the intention of publishing the video in order to create excitement on social media to increase the number of viewers.
The court ruled by three months imprisonment for the two accused and fined each of them an amount of 100,000 dirham for the two charges against them due to connection of charges. The confiscation of the car and phones used in the crime, in addition to the suspension of the driver’s license for the first accused for a period of six months and banning the two accused from using the social media sites for a period of six months. The court also ordered the video clip to be erased and closing the two accounts used in the incident completely, with obligating the two accused to pay legal fees.
The court explained the reasons for the ruling that the competent authorities and during monitoring negative phenomena and violations on social media, was able to spot a video clip showing a social media celebrity driving his luxury vehicle at speeds of 205 kilometers per hour, on one of the main inner streets of Abu Dhabi Island. The video clip showed the accused bragging about his vehicle and its strength, indicating that the accused has a mass base of viewers in the middle age group, which may affect adolescents negatively and encourage them to commit such acts, in addition to the dangers that may be caused to the lives of others.
Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution confirmed that car parade in public streets is one of the most irresponsible behaviors of young people which represent a threat to their lives and the lives of other road users. Pointing out the need for educational and community parties to cooperate with the concerned authorities and to intensify raising awareness campaigns in a way that limits the recklessness of young individuals on the roads and endangers their lives and the lives of others. It also praised the efforts of the security and judicial authorities in dealing with these behaviors, by taking all legal measures against anyone who seeks to harm the safety of community members or their property.
Public Prosecution representative added that Article 348 of the Federal Penal Code states “Whoever willfully commits an act which exposes the life, health, security, or freedom of people to danger, shall be punished by detention, by a fine, or either of these two penalties.” pointing out that the term “imprisonment” in the penal code means that the term of imprisonment in the penal code means that it could be up to three years.
On the other hand, Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution appealed to social media celebrities to show responsibility for the media content provided by them to their audiences, especially since most of their followers are teenagers and young adults who consider them as role models for their behavior. Noting that when celebrities’ conduct such behaviors, they will incite others to commit them and exposes themselves to legal accountability.
