An ongoing civil trial alleging an Atlantic City councilman lives in Egg Harbor Township took a criminal turn Wednesday.
Muhammad Zia, who represents the Fifth Ward, was arrested after he allegedly threatened a local businessman testifying against him.
"I will f--- you up!" Zia yelled at the man, according to the charges obtained by BreakingAC.
Zia, 50, is charged with second-degree witness-tampering and third-degree terroristic threats for his alleged actions.
Naeem Khan, who owns Garden State Fuels, was readying to testify when the incident occured, BreakingAC has learned.
City Councilman Rizwan Malik said the trial was on a break when Zia came in and started screaming in Zia's face.
"Mr. Naeem was sitting,kind of stretching," Malik explained. "Next thing, Mr. Zia came right next to his face, maybe two inches from his face.:
Zia screamed in a mix of Punjabi and English being "very loud and calling (Khan) names," said Malik, who understands both languages.
He said he ran into the courtroom to try to get an officer, but no one was there.
Malik was able to get one of the lawyers, who called a sheriff's officer.
Zia was then arrested.
A shaken-up Khan asked that his testimony be postponed to Thursday.
Council President Aaron "Sporty" Randolph declined to comment.
Mayor Marty Small was in the courtroom briefly during the trial Wednesday, but left before the disturbance, Malik said.
The mayor did not respond to a request for comment.
