A youth in Abu Dhabi has been jailed and fined Dh500,000 for sending an abusive voice note.

The youth was convicted of sending a threatening message through social media.

Official court documents stated that the complainant said the defendant demeaned him in the voice note and threatened to hurt him. Police investigations confirmed that the words used in the voice message were “undermining, abusive and threatening”. The language used also showed disrespect for religion.

The defendant had said he sent the message out of anger and not to insult or threaten the complainant.

Prosecutors had charged the Arab man with violating certain sections of the cybercrime law, insulting the victim and threatening him.

The Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance had earlier sentenced the Arab man to four years in jail and fined him Dh500,000. The appellate court maintained the fine but cut the jail term to one year. The Court of Cassation upheld the appellate court’s ruling.

The UAE Cybercrime Law No. 5 of 2012 includes a range of violations and penalties, with fines ranging between Dh50,000 and Dh3 million depending on the type and severity of the offence.