A school employee was fined Dh2,000 by a Dubai court for taking and sharing an unauthorised picture of a female teacher caught sleeping on campus.

The incident took place at a private school during a break between classes, where the teacher was captured dozing off in the teachers' lounge.

The accused, a colleague of the teacher, who works as an administrator at the school, reportedly took advantage of the compromised situation and photographed the teacher – using a mobile phone – without her knowledge. The teacher’s face was clearly visible in the picture.

Subsequently, the photo was forwarded to the school administration via WhatsApp.

The teacher filed a complaint of invasion of privacy and legal action was initiated. The female employee justified her action as being part of her job.

Guilty and fined

According to a report published in the Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm on Saturday, a Dubai court found the female school employee guilty of breaching the teacher's privacy. The court showed leniency and punished her with a fine of Dh2,000.

The UAE has strict laws against infringing on others' privacy. Posting photographs, videos or making comments on social media that invade someone's privacy can attract a hefty fine of up to Dh500,000 with six months' imprisonment. This includes taking, sharing, or publishing photos or personal information with the intent to harm.