Don't know the particulars of this case but one of the big issues is that you don't actaully have to give a local the bird to get jailed.
They only have to claim that you did, and when it comes to court, guess which way it's going to go ? I'll give you a hint - expat loses every time
and even though there was no-one there, one of his 14 brothers will have seen it.
and as the Arab saying goes - "if you don't like it, leave"
