Abu Dhabi court orders individual to pay Dhs7,599 fine for forcibly taking and damaging someone's phone

The Abu Dhabi Court for Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases ruled that an individual must pay Dhs7,599 in compensation to another person. The defendant had physically assaulted the plaintiff and used insults and abusive language against him in a public setting among witnesses. Additionally, the defendant had grabbed the plaintiff's mobile phone and forcefully thrown it, resulting in its damage.

In response, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the defendant, seeking Dhs20,000 in compensation for various damages. This amount comprised Dhs5,099 for the material damage to the mobile phone and Dhs14,901 for moral and non-material damages stemming from the assault, verbal abuse, and damage to his dignity and reputation. The plaintiff also demanded a legal interest rate of 5% per annum from the date of the claim until full payment, along with court fees and expenses. To substantiate his claim, he provided the criminal judgment, a certificate verifying its finality, and the purchase invoice for the phone.

The court observed that the complainant had provided the purchase invoice for the phone, confirming its value at Dhs5,099. Since it was established that the phone was destroyed by the defendant's actions, and its value was verified by the document provided, the complainant suffered a direct material loss equivalent to the phone's worth. Thus, the court decided to award him Dhs5,099 in compensation for this material damage.

Furthermore, the court acknowledged that the criminal ruling confirmed the defendant had directed abusive and insulting remarks at the complainant, damaging his honor and reputation. These actions occurred publicly, within view and hearing of others, alongside the physical act of seizing and throwing the phone. Such behavior inherently diminishes the complainant's dignity and status, causing embarrassment, distress, and psychological pain, resulting in moral damage separate from material damage. The court identified a direct causal relationship between this harm and the defendant's misconduct and determined compensation for moral and emotional damages at Dhs2,500.