Judge rebukes lawyer asking for media ban

The UAE media gained strong impetus when a judge in Ajman rebuffed pleas by a defence lawyer to kick journalists out of court during hearings of a swindle case, saying the court can not ban the media from doing its job. 

The lawyer for an Emirati woman who had swindled large sums of money from scores of people had asked judge Isam Rahma to bar journalists and stop the media from handling his client’s case on the grounds this will affect the public option and consequently the court sentence. 

“The judge replied that publishing the case in newspapers will not affect the court’s sentence because the UAE judiciary system is independent…he also told the lawyer that the court can not prevent newspapers from publishing and handling this case,” Emirat Alyoum Arabic language daily said. 

The woman, identified as MG, was arrested in late 2011 but was released on bail. She was arrested again and refused bail by court on Sunday. 

The woman, an employee at Ajman traffic police, is accused of embezzling more than Dhtwo million from nearly 40 victims through a fake firm.

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