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Egyptian man who beat flatmate with belt avoids jail
Summary
Mina Fanous, an Egyptian engineer who claimed he had fled after a bomb attack killed his wife and child, was found guilty of assaulting his flatmate Jiagua Chen with a belt, stealing her Samsung phone and damaging her laptop in Sandyford, Dublin, on 20 April 2015. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Fanous had a prior minor theft conviction. The case had been adjourned twice; he was released on bail to gather evidence of his claim. An email from his defence lawyer proved he was still entitled to live in the apartment at the time of the assault. Judge Melanie Greally acknowledged his legal right to remain there and noted his belief that he was defending his rights, though she found his admissions unclear. She imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspending the balance, taking into account time already spent in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Egyptian man who beat flatmate with belt avoids jail. Charges or matters: assaulting Jiagua Chen causing her harm, stealing her Samsung phone and causing criminal damage to her laptop at Time Place, Corrig Road, Sandyford, Dublin on April 20, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 20, 2015 Adjournment
- April 20 Incident
- 2016-02-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assaulting Jiagua Chen causing her harm, stealing her Samsung phone and causing criminal damage to her laptop at Time Place, Corrig Road, Sandyford, Dublin on April 20, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She imposed an 18 month sentence but suspended the balance, having taken into account the time Fanous had spent in custody awaiting sentence.; The case had been adjourned twice and Fanous was allowed out on bail to gather documentation to prove his claim of the bomb attack and his rights of access to the apartment.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Time Place
- Corrig Road
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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