A property dispute sparked an incident of alleged domestic violence that ended with the arrest of Assistant District Attorney Sanaz Nikaein and her husband, officials said Monday.
Nikaein and her husband, Faysal Nuri, a managing engineer at Intel, the Chron reports, were both arrested Saturday on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery.
Nikaein’s attorney, Tony Brass, told the Chron that the couple is divorcing but was “essentially living as roommates,” when the argument over property occurred. Nikaein suffered some redness around her neck, and Nuri reported being scratched in the altercation.
The case was immediately handed over to the state attorney general’s office to avoid a conflict of interest, District attorney’s office spokesman Omid Talai said.
Nikaein has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the attorney general’s investigation, Talai said.
She has handled high-profile cases for the district attorney’s office, including the case of Randal Dunklin, a wheelchair-bound man who was accused of stabbing a San Francisco police officer before being shot by officers in January 2011.
Dunklin was found not guilty in November of assaulting a police officer, but was convicted of vandalism and brandishing a knife. Jurors deadlocked on other charges.
Both Nuri, and Nikaein were released on $10,000 bail each, the Chron reports.
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