Dubai: A French musician has been jailed for 15 days for playing his oud in public and collecting money, an act considered begging, a crime punishable by law.

The Dubai Misdemeanours Court convicted the 27-year-old French street entertainer of begging by spreading out a cloth in public for his audience to leave him money.

On November 1, Dubai Police apprehended the Frenchman for begging as he was caught playing his musical instrument while his audience listened to him at the Gold Souq in Naif.

The street entertainer was caught with Dh27 that his audience had left on a piece of cloth in front of him.

When he showed up before the presiding judge, the Frenchman admitted that he was playing his oud and had left a cloth in front of him for optional payment by the audience.

Street musicians and entertainers is a European-style of public performance and is common across most European and western cities.

The defendant claimed that street entertainment is his way of making a living. He contended that he travels the world and plays his oud in public and is paid by those who enjoy his music.

During questioning, he said he does not ask the audience to pay him but it is up to their discretion to leave him money in case they are entertained and like his music.

During Monday’s hearing, the presiding judge presented the money that had been seized by the police and the accused confirmed that it was his.

He told the court that it was the money that his audience had left when he performed.

The court sentenced the Frenchman [who has been in custody since November 1] to 15 days in jail followed by deportation.

The presiding judge said the money will be confiscated.

Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.