UAE | Crime
Briton jailed over traffic accident killing wins lenient judgement
A lawyer has won his client a suspended imprisonment and a cancelled deportation order after defending that drunken driving was not the main cause of a traffic accident which killed two tourists.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 22:57 February 13, 2009
Dubai: A lawyer has won his client a suspended imprisonment and a cancelled deportation order after defending that drunken driving was not the main cause of a traffic accident which killed two tourists.
The Dubai Court of Appeal awarded the 36-year-old British convict the judgment after Presiding Judge Mustafa Al Shennawi suspended his one-year imprisonment and cancelled his deportation order.
"My client, M.A., is seeking the Appeals Court for leniency & the accident did not happen due to drunken driving. A traffic police officer earlier stated in an Arabic newspaper that the developments and diversions which the Roads and Transports Authority was carrying out on Mankhool Road caused the accident," argued defence lawyer Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi, of Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi Advocates and Legal Consultants.
When Al Shamsi presented his argument before the court, he handed the judge a copy of the newspaper in which the traffic officer was quoted.
"Basically, we are pleading that M.A. is innocent, and, alternatively, we are seeking to reduce his imprisonment and to cancel his deportation order which was sentenced by the Dubai Court of First Instance," defended Al Shamsi.
Presiding Judge Al Shennawi yesterday overturned the ruling and suspended the jail term and cancelled the deportation. However, the judge confirmed that M.A. will have to pay Dh400,000 in blood money to the two victims' families and a Dh5,000 fine. His driving licence will be revoked for one year.
The Briton earlier denied driving under the influence of liquor and pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Appeals Court.
Al Shamsi told the court that his client already deposited Dh400,000 in the court's treasury.
"The injured victims also waived their rights and my client is an investor and has bought property in the UAE.
"We plead the court to cancel his deportation order and reduce his punishment so that it doesn't hurt his family's future."
The Traffic Public Prosecution earlier charged him with reckless driving, jumping a red signal and ramming a tourist's 4x4 vehicle, killing two and injuring six others when he drove under the influence of liquor.
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