Man damaged room at isolation centre while undergoing quarantine, Dubai court told

A man damaged a room at a Dubai isolation centre while undergoing quarantine, a court heard.

The Pakistani traveller arrived in the emirate in June.

He was told he would be required to self-isolate at the Al Warsan facility, in Hind Humanitarian City, in line with Covid-19 safety measures as he had no place of his own to stay.

“On June 21, we received a phone call from the security guards at the facility, that was [operated] under Dubai Health Authority, reporting the incident at building A11,” said an Emirati legal advisor at DHA.

“The building was under the supervision of Dubai police, so when I arrived at the unit and saw it had been destroyed, they were informed and arrested the defendant.”

In court, the 31-year-old salesman admitted a charge of intentionally destroying public property.

“I was sent to the apartment to self isolate after arriving from abroad because I had no place to stay,” he told Dubai Criminal Court.

He told judges he had lost control of his emotions during isolation.

“I didn’t use any tool, I used my hands only to rip off the ceiling and the wardroom,” said the man.

A verdict is due to be passed on September 28.