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The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court convicted a teacher of physically assaulting four students inside a classroom at a private school in the capital and sentenced him to two years in prison with deportation to follow upon completion of the term. The court also ordered the defendant to cover all legal costs after determining the assaults left the pupils with injuries that stopped them performing normal activities for periods not exceeding 20 days. Gulf News reported that the ruling rested on the teacher’s own admission during both the investigation and court proceedings together with supporting CCTV evidence from the school. The court explicitly rejected the defendant’s claim that the force was needed to restore order noting instead that the footage displayed unjustified violence and extreme harshness.
CCTV footage reviewed by the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court showed the teacher using excessive force against the four students without any valid disciplinary justification according to the published ruling. The defendant had told investigators and the court that he acted only to prevent disruption during the lesson yet the judges concluded the actions breached public security and order inside an educational setting. Gulf News reported that the assaults occurred entirely within one classroom session leaving all four children with documented physical harm. The court’s assessment placed the incident as a clear violation of the professional duties attached to the teaching role.
Federal Law by Decree No 31 of 2021 on Crimes and Penalties sets incarceration of up to two years and a fine for assaults committed by someone violating the duties of their profession or craft a provision that applied directly to this case. A separate Gulf News analysis of similar complaints notes that Article 390 of the same law addresses physical assaults resulting in inability to perform usual activities for more than 20 days while the lesser threshold still allows significant penalties when professional obligations are breached. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court applied the higher sentencing range after confirming the defendant’s status as a teacher entrusted with pupil safety. Court records examined by the newspaper showed the ruling emphasised the location inside a school during instructional hours as an aggravating factor.
The teacher acknowledged the offence in full both to police and before the judges yet maintained his actions were intended to maintain classroom discipline. In its written judgment the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court dismissed that explanation after the CCTV material demonstrated the degree of force went far beyond any reasonable measure. Gulf News reported that the students suffered injuries consistent with the teacher’s admitted conduct though none required extended medical treatment beyond the 20-day activity limit. The decision underscores the judicial stance on protecting students from unwarranted harm in educational environments.
UAE authorities have pursued consistent enforcement against educator misconduct in recent years with multiple recorded cases leading to prison terms and deportation for those found to have violated professional standards. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court in this instance followed established precedent by combining the custodial sentence with mandatory removal from the country once the term ends. Gulf News coverage of the verdict highlighted the payment of court costs as an additional element of the penalty. Judges noted the offence occurred in full view of the school setting which amplified its impact on public order.
Prosecutors built the case on the defendant’s statements together with the video recording that captured each instance of physical contact. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court determined that the evidence left no room for claims of legitimate discipline and handed down the two-year term accordingly. Gulf News reported the full judgment including the deportation order which will be executed after the prison sentence concludes. The ruling stands as the latest in a series of judicial actions aimed at safeguarding children within UAE schools.
