Dubai: A Dubai Traffic Court has sentenced a defendant in absentia to one month in prison after convicting him of driving a vehicle without a valid driving licence and using the vehicle without the knowledge or consent of its owner.According to court records, the case dates back to an incident that took place late last year within the jurisdiction of Bur Dubai Police Station.The Public Prosecution charged the 35-year-old defendant with two offences: driving a vehicle without a licence authorising him to operate that category of vehicle, and using a motor vehicle without the permission or consent of its owner.The case file stated that the defendant drove the vehicle despite not holding a valid driving licence issued by the relevant licensing authority. He was also found to have taken and driven the vehicle without the owner's knowledge or consent.The defendant did not attend the court hearing despite being legally notified, allowing the court to proceed with the case and issue a judgment in absentia in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law.The court relied on evidence presented in the case, including the arrest and transfer report, findings contained in the traffic accident report and accident diagram, as well as the defendant's admission in the evidence-gathering report.The court found that the evidence proved the defendant had committed both offences and was therefore guilty under the relevant provisions of the law.It added that the two offences were linked in a manner that required the application of the penalty prescribed for the more serious offence, in accordance with Article 89 of the Federal Crimes and Penalties Law.The court subsequently sentenced the defendant in absentia to one month in prison.
