Ajman court fines mother Dh1,000 for assaulting son with microphone

Ajman mother fined Dh1,000 for hitting son on head with microphone

The Ajman Federal Court of First Instance has imposed a Dh1,000 fine on a 33-year-old Gulf national mother after she was found guilty of assaulting her son with a microphone, leaving him temporarily unable to perform daily activities for up to 20 days.

The woman was convicted under Article 390(2) of the UAE Crimes and Penalties Law and ordered to pay court fees. Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 31/2021, assault causing injury or incapacity for up to 20 days carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment and a fine up to Dh10,000, while more severe injuries exceeding 20 days attract harsher sentences.

The Incident

The incident occurred following a dispute between the boy and his sister. During the altercation, the mother struck her son on the head with a microphone. The boy also sustained injuries from a dog bite, as the family kept a dog owned by the mother.

The case was brought to the attention of authorities after the boy's father reported the alleged assault to police. Under the UAE's Wadeema Law (Federal Law No. 3 of 2016), anyone who becomes aware of child abuse must report it to authorities, with failure to do so punishable by fines between Dh5,000 and Dh10,000. The complaint was registered and subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution, which initiated legal proceedings.

Medical Evidence

A medical examination confirmed that the boy had sustained injuries that temporarily impaired his ability to carry out daily activities for a period not exceeding 20 days, a crucial factor in determining the severity of the charges and subsequent sentencing.

Court Proceedings

Throughout the investigation and court proceedings, the mother maintained her innocence. She denied the charge during the initial investigation and continued her denial when she appeared before the court via video link. Her legal representative submitted a defence memorandum requesting her acquittal, while the Public Prosecution called for a conviction based on the available evidence.

Ajman operates under the UAE's federal judicial system, with cases heard at the Federal Court of First Instance and appealable to the Court of Appeal and ultimately the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi.

The Verdict

In reaching its verdict, the court found that the boy's statements during the investigation were supported by the medical report, which corroborated the allegation of assault and directly linked the documented injuries to the incident in question. The court determined that the defence arguments presented were insufficient to undermine the prosecution's evidence and accordingly found the defendant guilty of assault.

UAE courts consider cases involving children as aggravating circumstances, with special provisions requiring child protection specialists to be involved in investigations and trials where one party is a child. However, when determining the appropriate sentence, the court took into account the family relationship between the defendant and the victim, granting leniency because she was his mother.

The court ultimately sentenced her to a fine of Dh1,000 and ordered payment of court fees, reflecting the balance between the seriousness of the offence and the familial context in which it occurred.