The Attorney-General of the United Arab Emirates issued Wednesday a verdict on traffic violations committed last week by Saudi nationals who modified the front end of their cars. They were ordered to pay AED20,000 in fines and AED700 for the cost of the tickets. They were also warned against committing the same violation again. Fahad Al-Subai'i, one of the Saudis found guilty, said, “I had no choice but to hear the verdict. I have appealed to the Court of Cassation and the session is due on the third of Ramadan to reconsider the verdict.” “I went to the UAE to buy a car because I'm getting married during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays. Half the money I had saved for the car has gone into paying the fines,” he said. “Why did the Saudi and United Arab Emirates customs at the border not tell me that it is against the law to change the front end of your car?” he lamented. A source from the Saudi Embassy in the UAE told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that “the embassy is following up the case with relevant departments in the UAE. A lawyer was appointed by the embassy to defend Saudi citizens and to appeal before the Court of Cassation if the verdicts were unfair.” Saudi Gazette reported on July 10 that over 28 Saudi citizens were detained in the UAE on charges of modifying their cars and tampering with the number plates. __
