A woman is facing jail time in Dubai after allegedly insulting an erratic driver who tailgated her.
Sandra de Zori, 45, has been charged, and is now facing a Dubai nightmare.
She has been banned from travelling, her visa has been cancelled and she has lost her job.
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The French teacher moved to the United Arab Emirates with her husband in 2022, to immerse herself in the local culture.
While driving home from an art exhibition, Sandra noticed a big white car with blacked-out windows behind her.
The vehicle had allegedly begun to tailgate her, after she exited the highway, flashing its lights.
Confused by the situation, Sandra said she slowed down and the car overtook her in the process.
Then, according to the teacher, it slowed down suddenly in front of her.
Attempting to avoid hitting it, Sandra changed lanes, but the car followed, overtook and again hit the brakes in front of her.
This allegedly happened three times before the driver parted ways from a terrified Sandra.
After pulling over, the 45-year-old called the emergency services who advised her to report the incident at the Al Barsha police station.
The following morning Sandra received a fine from the rental car company for ‘swerving’ as reported by Need To Know.
Returning to the station, Sandra was informed that a case had been filed against her by the other driver.
The man driving the white car had accused her of insulting him and raising her middle finger at him.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai – an organisation to aid foreigners abroad – who is helping the victim, said: “It is an automatic procedure in Dubai for anyone who has driven erratically or intimidated another driver to pre-emptively complain about the victim.
“The first person to make the complaint is taken more seriously by the police and their complaint, albeit with zero evidence, is prosecuted.
“Sandra raised both hands in the air as he slowed in front of her but never made a rude gesture or insulted the driver.
“I have seen this kind of behaviour again and again over the past almost two decades.
“Usually, the erratic driver is deliberately intimidating the other driver knowing they will call the police.
“When they do, there will be an ‘insult’ charge already filed against them and they will use it to extort their victim.
“They know how to work the system. They know the police will side with the first person to make the complaint and they know they can wield the power of the justice system to force the victim to pay them to drop the case.
“What’s concerning is that police are fully aware of this extortion tactic but continue to partake in it.
“The government of Dubai should investigate the police for corruption as the issue is widespread and ongoing.
“Sandra feared for her life as she drove home from an art exhibition. She was completely traumatised and is now potentially facing years in prison.
“She is on a travel ban and can’t go home to France. She spends her time in her apartment, afraid to go out, afraid to drive, and afraid that someone else will open a case against her. She feels hopeless.
“Sandra has lost all of her money to local lawyers and she has lost her job as her visa has been cancelled.
“She is not sleeping, she’s crying with anxiety, headaches and feeling completely destroyed. She’s gone from a happy-go-lucky, active and social woman to completely depressed.
“This is no way to treat guests in the United Arab Emirates.”
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