Man arrested, fined Dhs50,000 for breaking Covid-19 quarantine rules in Dubai

Dubai Police has arrested a young man and fined him Dhs50,000 for breaching mandatory home quarantine rules and violating related laws and regulations, it was announced on Saturday.

The man, who posted a video on social media saying he had gone out to buy coffee despite being infected with the virus, was charged with “endangering his life and that of others”.

According to Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Dubai Police, the man has been put under quarantine, and legal action has been taken against him.

“Not only did he violate home quarantine laws, he also deliberately bragged about his recklessness and published a video on social media platforms. His irresponsible action provoked public opinion as he endangered the lives of others,” Al Jallaf said.

#Dubai Police have arrested a young man for publishing a video of himself deliberately breaking home quarantine related regulations.https://t.co/ujfe5Toc5U pic.twitter.com/rXT2l5uvpF

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 12, 2020

The man has been charged under the Attorney General’s resolution No. 38 of 2020 on the list of violations and administrative sanctions for non-compliance with precautionary measures and guidelines put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19, a statement said.

The resolution outlines specific penalties for violating precautionary measures, including a fine of Dhs50,000 for failing to adhere to home quarantine instructions.

Al Jallaf also stressed that under article 31 of the UAE’s cyber-crime law, encouraging violation of the laws and regulations by publishing information is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine of between Dhs200,000 and Dhs1m.

He reminded the public to comply with the protective measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, including the wearing of a face mask at all times when outside the house, especially in public indoor areas such as shopping malls and restaurants, as well as observing physical distancing.

Individuals and institutions that fail to comply with precautionary measures outlined by the authorities will face penalties, the statement added.

The Dubai Police has issued several fines and warnings at key malls across the emirate over the weekend. While 221 violations were recorded for not wearing a mask, 3,283 warnings in four shopping malls were issued in the emirate.

Read: Covid-19: Police issue fines and warnings at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates

The UAE reported 1,007 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday – marking the highest number of daily cases in the country since the pandemic began.

Read: UAE reports 1,007 Covid-19 cases, highest since the outbreak