A French expatriate was cleared by Dubai’s criminal court of allegations of assault and theft involving her ex-husband’s cryptocurrency accounts valued at more than Dh5.5 million. Due to the high-value cryptocurrency accounts that were purportedly kept on the ex-husband’s laptop, the case—which is complicated in terms of ownership and intent—attracted attention.
Case Background: Theft and Assault Allegations
The woman, 36, was charged with stealing her ex-husband’s laptop, which included bitcoin trading accounts worth more than Dh5.5 million. In a related incident, she was also charged with bodily assault on her former mother-in-law.
Charges of Theft and Preventing Access in the January Incident
The allegations stemmed from an event that happened on January 26, 2023, while the couple was still married. The ex-husband claims that the lady damaged his laptop, which was purportedly used to handle employee payments for his company, and denied him access to their shared flat in Al Barsha.
The Allegation of Assault: Conflict with the Former Mother-in-Law
The woman was accused of assault during a fight at the flat by the ex-husband’s mother six months after the first accusations. The ex-mother-in-law claims the woman started the physical altercation, which happened during a custody transfer for the couple’s child.
Court’s Decision: Insufficient Proof
After reviewing both instances, Dubai’s criminal court found insufficient evidence to convict. The court rejected the allegations of assault and theft, citing the lack of sufficient evidence and the personal nature of the conflicts between the parties.
Defense Approach: Using Strong Evidence to Support Innocence
Dr. Hassan Elhais of Awatif Shoqi Advocates, the woman’s attorney, contended that his client had neither the chance nor the motivation to conduct the claimed crimes, and that the accusations were founded on circumstantial evidence. She was acquitted because Dr. Elhais stressed that the claims were not supported by technical evidence.
Violations of Custody Arrangements: The Defendant’s Argument
The woman in the assault case defended her behavior by claiming that, in spite of an agreement to do custody handovers at the building’s reception area, her ex-mother-in-law had forcibly entered her apartment. The judge dismissed the assault allegations after finding the woman’s statement to be credible.
The Reaction of the Defense: A Win for Justice
After the court’s decision, Dr. Elhais thanked the court for carefully weighing the facts and mentioned how the decision will affect his client’s reputation. “On these grounds, our client has been vindicated, and we appreciate the court’s careful review in both cases,” he said.
The Court’s Focus on Justice Based on Evidence
Dubai’s dedication to evidence-based justice is demonstrated by the court’s dismissal of both cases, which makes sure that private disagreements don’t disproportionately affect court decisions. This decision upholds the judiciary’s responsibility to impartially review matters involving valuable assets and private accusations.
