A teenage girl from the Gulf is currently facing legal ramifications in a significant Ras Al Khaimah case for allegedly sending a pal a WhatsApp message that insulted a young man and used filthy language.
WhatsApp Insult Leads to Legal Consequences in Ras Al Khaimah
The Ras Al Khaimah Court of Appeal has imposed a 3,000 dirham sanction on the defendant on the grounds that she insulted the victim with her conduct.
The civil court awards compensation for emotional harm.
Simultaneously, a civil court of first instance ruled that the accused must pay the young man 6,000 dirhams as compensation for the emotional harm he endured. This legal development sheds light on the consequences of online insults and the responsibility individuals bear for their digital communications.
Plaintiff Seeks Compensation for Moral and Psychological Damages
The young man initiated the lawsuit, seeking financial compensation totaling 10,000 dirhams for the moral and psychological damages he suffered due to the insulting messages. His claim was based on the accused's offensive use of language in their WhatsApp conversation, including calling him a "monkey."
Legal Complexity, Surrounding Capacity, and Criminal Ruling
The defendant's representative argued that the lawsuit was invalid, contending that it targeted someone without legal capacity. However, the court noted that the second defendant had received a final criminal ruling for accusing the plaintiff using an information technology method. As a result, the criminal judgment was binding on the court and prevented it from reviewing the case again.
The court emphasises limitations and compensation assessments.
The court emphasised that the criminal ruling conclusively determined the occurrence of the act of insult on social media, limiting the court's role in the civil lawsuit. The court's responsibility was then narrowed down to estimating compensation for the damages resulting from the criminal act.
Compensation Assessment for Emotional Distress
Analysing the presented evidence, the court recognised that the plaintiff had endured emotional distress due to the second defendant's actions. Acknowledging the harm inflicted on the plaintiff, the court deemed it necessary for the perpetrator to provide compensation, setting the value at 6,000 dirhams.
