Dubai: A minibus owner could face an year in jail and a fine for failing to report his friend to police after the latter mowed down a man while driving his vehicle last month.

The minibus owner, A.M, 52, an Indian national, has been charged with failing to inform the traffic police when his friend, A.H, 27, a Pakistani national, fatally knocked down a 24-year-old Emirati man on Dubai-Al Ain Road, said senior chief prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP).

“We have asked for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable against A.M. According to Traffic Law, he could face a year in jail and a minimum fine of Dh5,000… because he did not report [to] the traffic enforcement authorities about his friend who drove the minibus that caused the accident. TPP has also charged a 50-year-old Indian suspect, A.F, with unlawfully repairing a vehicle that was involved in an accident,” Bu Farousha said on Sunday.

A.M, A.H. and A.F. have been referred to the Dubai Traffic Misdemeanour Court and are scheduled to stand trial soon.

According to the charges sheet, traffic prosecutors charged A.H. with causing the Emirati’s death by driving the minibus recklessly and running him over as he was filling petrol in his car.

Bu Farousha said the Emirati man had parked his car on the hard shoulder of the road after running out of petrol. The man was filling petrol in his car when A.H. lost control of the minibus and suddenly swerved to the right side causing the fatal impact, Bu Farousha said.

“Due to the strong impact, the victim’s body flew in the air and hit his own vehicle, then his body rolled over and landed 19 metres away from the road. Traffic police exerted tremendous efforts to find any evidence or clue to catch the suspect, who did not stop at the accident site. One person, who accompanied the victim, witnessed the accident. The witness gave very brief and incomplete description about the minibus. However police identified the minibus that was parked in Al Aweer. The front bumper and its side mirror were damaged,” Bu Farousha said.

A.H. was also charged with fleeing an accident site and causing damage to both the minibus and the Emirati man’s car.

A.M. was accused of failing to inform the police about the accident caused by A.H.

A.F. was charged with repairing a vehicle involved in a fatal accident illegally.

“A.F. failed to complete the repairs in the minibus after A.H. and A.M. got arrested. According to primary interrogations, A.M. advised A.H. to give the vehicle to A.F. for repair. Meanwhile A.H. alleged during prosecution questioning that he did not stop after the accident because he was tired and sleepy; he also claimed that he panicked,” Bu Farousha said.