Dubai bomb threat: Accomplice claims Asian supplied fake explosive belt

The policeman, who was accused of preparing the fake bomb belt worn by the Uzbek woman who threatened to blow up Dubai Prosecution’s premises last September 1, denied the charge and his lawyer argued that the driver of a taxi which dropped the woman on the  day of the incident, could prove it.

ZA, 33, had told prosecutors that the belt was made in her house in the Gardens. However, refuting her claim, Isan bin Haiden, lawyer of MY, 28, told the Court that, on the day of the incident, ZA had taken a taxi from her house in the Gardens to Naif where she met an Asian from whom she picked up the belt while the taxi was waiting for her to take her to Dubai Prosecution’s premises where she made the bomb threat.

The lawyer asked the Court to summon the Pakistani taxi driver after supplying his name in order to hear his testimony. The lawyer blamed Dubai Prosecution for not taking the taxi driver’s testimony which he said is important because it would refute her claims.

Bin Haidar also requested a copy of his client’s testimony to the national security section, specifically the one taken at 2.30am on the day following the crime. The accused, who is from Fujairah, is facing the charge of aiding and abetting ZA who is accused of making the bombing threat, subjecting others’ lives to danger and using force with a public servant for a service.

In a previous hearing, the lawyer of the Uzbek woman, who was accused of threatening to explode a belt bomb in Dubai Prosecution’s premises last September to force an Emirati man to take a paternity test of her 10-year-old son, had told the Court that the man had admitted to being the father of the son.

Lawyer Muna Al Khaja also told the Court that her client is married to the man. He calls her in prison every day and during these calls he admitted being married to her and that the boy is his son. He also sends her money as an allowance.

ZA is being prosecuted for threatening to explode a belt she was wearing when she entered the Dubai Prosecution premises accompanied by her son at around 11.30am on September 1 to force a paternity test. At the reception, she clapped her hands to draw attention and started shouting and screaming demanding a paternity test.  She then opened her abaya and, pointing at the explosive belt she was wearing, threatened to bomb the building if her demand was not met. Police officers were rushed to the scene and the building was evacuated. They also negotiated with the woman until she surrendered at 1am on the next day.

Colonel Mohammed Ahmad testified that when he arrived at the scene the woman asked for top UAE leaders and ministers, the Uzbek consul and lawyer Muna Al Khaja and a CID employee called Huda.

The accused threatened to bomb herself, her son, and the police officer. “The bombing will not be limited to the premises. A car will explode at the same time with the help of another person,” she threatened. During negotiations she was calling someone and talking to him about the development of the negotiations.

“Her belt looked very much real with its wire hooked to a detonator. This had happened for the first time in the UAE. Others may try to do what she did,” testified Col. Mohammed.

Criminal Evidences reported that the belt was fake as it did not contain any explosive or circuit. However, it looked like a real one with wires and detonator. It also reported ZA’s finger prints on the wires and scotch tape together with other unidentified prints.

Dubai Prosecution submitted to the Court testimonies of eyewitnesses including some of the department’s employees and visitors who lived moments of terror because of the woman’s threats.

Dubai Prosecution also accused Emirati Captain MY, 28, of aiding and abetting the woman by making the belt, and suggesting that she go to the building to demand that JS take the paternity test. The officer denied the accusation and asked for release on bail which the Court refused.

Judicial record and threat history

The woman had sued JS whom she claimed to be the father of her son before Ajman Court. The 49-year-old JS, Corporal in the Armed Forces, testified that he had met ZA in 2003.

“After ten days of our relationship she claimed to have become pregnant. She filed a case with Ajman Court which acquitted me while she was sentenced to one month in jail for adultery. Three years later, she filed a case against me with Sharjah Court which also turned down her case. She relentlessly sued me and every time I was acquitted. She then started creating family problems for me.

“Last August 20, she sent me threatening text messages and a picture of an explosive belt with a voice message saying that I will see the bombing. I did not take her threats seriously until I was shocked to hear about the bombing threat in Dubai Prosecution premises,” testified JS.

The woman had asked JS to submit to a paternity test besides issuing a passport to her son, offering her a villa and Dh3 million.

“I did not accept the demands because I was not sure that the boy is my son and I asked her to resort to the law and that I will comply with what the law says,” JS testified.

JS presented the 2007 verdict of the Sharjah Sharia Court which, based on Islamic jurisprudence, had turned down the case as the child was the result of an adulterous relationship with JS which she admitted to and was outside marriage.

JS also presented the verdict of Ajman Court in 2003 which sentenced her to a suspended month in jail for adultery with him.

The Court will reconvene on February 9.
 

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