Tenant warned against death threats

Hamza M. Sengendo

An American tenant who threatened to smash the head of his landlord has been let off with a warning.

The sales manager HA (42) had spent around four years renting an apartment in Dubai Motor City, owned by an Indian regional manager BM (50).

On Aug 27 he threatened to kill BM for trying to deduct the cost of damages from the deposit, prosecutors told the Dubai Criminal Court.

The court sentenced him to three months in prison but ordered that the punishment be suspended for a period of three years. He ought not to do the same within that period.

Records showed that the duo had engaged in a tenancy dispute after which a Dubai Municipality committee ordered HA to vacate the apartment. At around 10:30am on the date of the incident BM took a Sri Lankan employee to receive the apartment.

They examined it in the presence of safety and security workers and detected leaking water pipes and malfunctioning lamps in addition to damage to the wardrobe, the kitchen’s wooden wall and a door’s lock.

BM noted the damages and tried to photograph them. HA shouted at him and insisted he wanted his Dhs5,000 deposit back. “I will break your head,” and “I will kill you,” he reportedly threatened.

BM returned to his car followed by the Sri Lankan. HA pursued them while asking for the tenancy agreement. As BM switched the engine on, HA strongly banged the rear window forcing BM to step out and demand the reason.

Meanwhile, HA rushed inside and grabbed the tenancy agreement from near the armrest box and left. BM filed a complaint with Al Barsha Police Station before HA could return the agreement.