Indian cleared of Burj Khalifa blast threat

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted an Indian of sending a text message to a police officer to blast Burj Khalifa if he was not  paid a ransom of $1million.

The accused, JFA, used the Indian's mobile phone and sent a message - "tomoro burj kaleefa blast arange no arrange 1oooooo dollar take" - to Major Ahmad Juma Mohammed in Februray.

Major Mohammed, 34, said the message was not clear but “I could understand that Burj Khalifa would be exploded if $1m was not paid. Letter ‘o’ was used instead of zero. I immediately notified the Operation Room and was asked to forward the message, so I did,” he testified.

And police arrested Chaudry from whose mobile phone the message was sent. Investigations led to a 35-year old Pakistani barman at Panorama Hotel.

He testified that JFA and Chaudry (victim) visited the club regularly. However, on not seeing Chaudry for sometime he enquired with one of Chaudry's relative, who said he was in jail. Later when the barman met JFA, he asked him about Chaudry's whereabouts.

"When I saw JFA again, I told him that I heard that Chaudry is in jail and asked him the reason. JFA confirmed the information and said that he will not be released from jail. I was surprised of what he said. Fifteen days ago I met JFA and Chaudry again and he boasted that he was big businessman and that he can send Chaudry [who was standing a little away from him] to jail again," the barman testified.

"JFA told me that he sent Chaudry to jail the first time. He told me that he also sent a text message from his mobile phone but did not tell to whom he sent it to and what the message was. I told Chaudry what I heard from JFA,” the barman told prosecutors.

Meanwhile, JFA has denied the charges of sending the threatening text message. Neither is he yet charged with Chaudry's arrest.