He tried to flee the country shortly after posting the messages

A welder, accused of insulting Islam on social media, has been sentenced to one year in jail.

The Court of First Instance was earlier told the 31-year-old Indian worker posted the messages on Facebook in which he disrespected Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Even though he deleted all the posts and details on his account shortly later, copies of the messages were obtained, translated and used as evidence by the public prosecution in the case against him.

The court found the accused guilty. It ordered him to pay a Dh500,000-fine and that he be deported afterwards.

Public prosecution records show the defendant tried to flee the UAE shortly after posting the messages.

The complaint was filed on November 6 last year, at Al Rashidiya police station by an Indian man who read the messages.

The accused was arrested two days later while trying to leave the country. His mobile phone from which he made the posts was seized.

According to the General Directorate of Criminal Evidence, the defendant's Facebook account was used from his own mobile phone. The last time he signed out was on November 7, last year. No hacking was suspected. It was not yet clear whether that account could have been accessed by another party through another device.

The defendant may appeal the court ruling within 15 days.

mary@khaleejtimes.com