A man has had his one-month jail sentence upheld by Dubai's Court of Appeal after he drove over a woman's legs while drunk, leaving her seriously injured.
The appeals court heard the man's case last week and reduced the financial penalty handed down by the Dubai Traffic Court, which also found him guilty of fleeing the accident scene.
It cut the fine to be paid by the Indian man, 39, to Dh10,000, from Dh20,000, and revoked his deportation order.
On November 19, the man drove his Nissan Patrol out of the car park of a four-star hotel in Bur Dubai's Al Mankhool area at about 3.40am.
He was under the influence of alcohol and failed to see a woman sitting on the pavement with her legs stretched out into the road.
“We were in the car together when the incident happened,” the man's friend told the court. “He [the driver] stopped the car so I stepped out to check on the woman but he drove off.”
A witness told investigators that when the man stopped the car, he asked him to park his vehicle.
“I smelt the alcohol on him when I went to check on the woman, so I told him not to drive the car,” the witness said.
“When I picked up my phone to call police and [an] ambulance, he said he needed to park his car properly but, instead, drove away.”
After he was tracked down and arrested, the offender admitted to the charges during police questioning and in court.
The police did not reveal any more details about the woman.
What does the law say?
The UAE has a zero-tolerance policy to driving under the influence of alcohol, which is a criminal offence.
“According to Article 393 of UAE’s traffic law, offenders causing a road death can face between one month and three years in prison or a fine as decided by the court,” said Nida Al Masri, a legal consultant from Justitia Advocates and Legal Consultants.
“Usually, the penalty is a year in jail minimum if the offender is found guilty of drink-driving.
“However, judges resort to Article 100 of the law, which allows them to avoid issuing the one-year minimum sentence.
“The one-year minimum sentence is mandatory and cannot be revoked by any court of any level even on appeal, so resorting to Article 100 is the only way to avoid it.”
Ms Al Masri believes sometimes judges give a lenient sentence after they review the details and circumstances of the case.
“They would go lenient according to the details they see in the file and when it comes to, for example revoking a deportation order, it is to avoid punishing the offender’s whole family by sending him away,” she said.
“Judges take into consideration if offenders have jobs or families here when they make their decision. It all goes back to the judge's evaluation of the case.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
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- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
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ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
MO
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Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
