The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court has convicted a driver of deliberately committing acts that placed the lives of people and road users in serious and imminent danger after he drove his vehicle recklessly and against the direction of traffic. The court also found that he had been driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages, describing the incident as a serious violation of traffic rules and a direct threat to public safety.

The court sentenced the defendant to six months in prison and imposed a fine of Dh100,000 for the charges brought against him. The ruling also ordered the confiscation of the vehicle used in the incident and the suspension of his driving licence for three years, with the suspension period beginning after he completes his prison sentence.

According to the details of the case, the defendant was spotted driving in a manner that endangered public safety while travelling against the direction of traffic. After he was apprehended, authorities found that he was in an abnormal condition, while a blood sample analysis conducted by the forensic evidence laboratory confirmed the presence of alcohol in his system.

The Criminal Court based its conviction on several pieces of evidence, including the field arrest report and surveillance footage from the Monitoring and Control Centre. The recordings clearly documented the serious traffic violation, while the defendant also admitted before the court to committing the offence.

In its reasoning, the court stressed that the defendant’s conduct represented a blatant breach of traffic regulations and applicable legislation. It underscored the need for strict enforcement of the Federal Decree-Law regulating traffic and road rules, as well as the Penal Code, to deter violations that endanger road users and protect the public’s right to move safely on the country’s road network.