Business parter denies responsibility for technician's electrocution

Dubai A business partner has denied responsibility for the accidental electrocution of an AC technician, who was paralysed after being thrown from a height of five metres.

Prosecutors charged the 25-year-old partner, K.K., of negligence and accidentally causing paraplegia to his technician, M.V., by failing to train him to do his job safely and not supplying him with safety equipment.

"I am not guilty," said K.K., an Indian, when he denied any negligence or responsibility for fellow countryman's M.V.'s injury when he defended himself before the Dubai Misdemeanour Court yesterday.

According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors said K.K. (in his capacity as the owner of an electric works company) failed to provide M.V. with a voltmeter while carrying out maintenance work and fixing a compressor to an air conditioner in Al Qusais.

The suspect was also accused of failing to properly train M.V. to safety standards while working at heights and leaving him unsupervised when the accident took place. Prosecutors also charged K.K. with failing to provide the victim with a safety outfit and equipment.

Records said the suspect provided the court with a photocopy confirming his company paid Dh35,000 in compensation to M.V. for his injury. K.K. was also said to have paid for the victim's three-month stay in the hospital where he was treated.

The defendant also bought two specialised wheelchairs for M.V. to use in his country.

Prosecution records said the victim was thrown from a five-metre height and fell on his back. He broke his spinal cord and became a paraplegic, hence sustaining a 100 per cent permanent disability.

Scaffolding

Presiding Judge Rifaat Mahmoud Tolba will hand out the judgment on May 23.

When questioned by prosecutors, K.K. claimed he was not responsible for M.V.'s injury.

"I was informed he got electrocuted and thrown off the scaffolding. He remained in hospital for three months until his family asked me to cancel his visa and send him back home for treatment."

A Bangladeshi worker, who was present with M.V when the accident happened, testified: "I work as a mechanic in the same company. On that day, M.V. and I were assigned to perform maintenance work to an air conditioning system in a warehouse. We ensured that the power was disconnected and M.V. was working on the electric connections… suddenly I spotted M.V. got electrocuted and he was thrown off a special aluminium scaffolding that we were using during the maintenance. Immediately I informed my manager and called the police and an ambulance."

The worker said M.V., according to his prosecution statement, should have made sure the power was disconnected before installing a compressor. The worked also confirmed the company trained them properly and that it supplied new staff with the required safety equipment, clothes and instructions.

"M.V. wore the safety clothes but I was not sure whether he had a voltmeter with him when the accident happened," the worker said.