UAE | Crime
Club manager and dancer jailed for Aaina's death
A club manager and a dancer have been jailed for causing the accidental death of a Pakistani dancer, Aaina Malek, who suffocated in a fire in a flat in July 2007.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:50 November 16, 2008
Dubai: A club manager and a dancer have been jailed for causing the accidental death of a Pakistani dancer, Aaina Malek, who suffocated in a fire in a flat in July 2007.
The Dubai Court of Appeal on Sunday confirmed that the 40-year-old Indian club manager and 22-year-old Nepalese dancer will spend two months in jail after it upheld the initial verdict.
The manager, D.K., and dancer, J.K., who were out on bail during the court proceedings, will jointly have to pay Dh200,000 in blood money to Aaina's successors.
Presiding Judge Adnan Mohammad Al Farra of the Appeal's Court also confirmed each will have to pay Dh3,000 fine for the accidental death.
The Public Prosecution earlier charged D.K. and his 22-year-old compatriot dancer, P.K., with locking up the victim against her will in the Bur Dubai flat and negligently causing her death in the accidental fire, along with J.K.
The Dubai Court of First Instance earlier acquitted D.K. and P.K. of unlawfully detaining Aaina, who records said suffocated after inhaling carbon monoxide, because she had agreed to be locked in the flat. The Courts of Cassation and Appeal confirmed their acquittal (concerning the illegal detention). The Pakistani victim's body was found in the flat where she suffocated.
In yesterday's ruling, the judge decided that the club manager and J.K. were responsible for the accidental death. Records said the Nepalese dancer accidentally caused the fire after she lit an oil lamp to perform a ritual. J.K. left the lamp lit and headed to work before the flat caught fire and caused Aaina's death.
A security guard testified that a key was kept in the flat where the fire broke out for the dancers to exit, especially in emergencies.
However, two other girls living there, including a dancer, testified that the dancers did not have a spare key for the flat.
Testimony
The security guard testified earlier that the flat is usually locked from outside for the dancers' safety against intruders but they do keep a spare key inside for emergencies.
D.K. and J.S. denied the charges and pleaded not guilty earlier.
A Pakistani dancer, T.N., testified: "P.S. locked the door from outside before going to work. Aaina and I stayed inside the flat. Suddenly the smell of smoke started coming out from one of the bedrooms.
"I opened the door to check what was happening and smoke filled the flat. Then somebody broke down the door and took me out of the flat. None of the girls are allowed to leave the flat without the management's permission."
In Sunday's ruling, the judge decided that the club manager and J.K. were responsible for the accidental death.
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