UAE | Crime
Food poisoning probe not over
The Public Prosecution is still looking for vital clues before arriving at a decision on any suspects involved in the death of two young children last week due to suspected food poisoning, Gulf News has learned.
- By Bassam Za'Za, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:04 June 22, 2009
- Image Credit: Supplied photo
- Nathan (in the foreground) and Chelsea (in the background) took gravely ill soon after eating a take-away meal bought from a restaurant.
Dubai: The Public Prosecution is still looking for vital clues before arriving at a decision on any suspects involved in the death of two young children last week due to suspected food poisoning, Gulf News has learned.
"No one has been detained or found responsible for the death of Nathan and Chelsea D'Souza. The investigations are still going on and we will start questioning witnesses in the case tomorrow [Tuesday]," Khalifa Bin Deemas, First Attorney General and Head of the Attorney General's Technical Office, told Gulf News on Monday.
Nathan, 5, and Chelsea, 7, took gravely ill soon after eating a take-away meal bought from a restaurant.
Bin Deemas said consent has been given to a forensic doctor to carry out the autopsy and added that the Public Prosecution would look into the findings as part of the investigations, he said.
Gulf News learned that the autopsy of the two children has been conducted.
Bin Deemas was quoted in a media statement as saying: "Due to the vagueness of this case, which has also garnered massive public attention, the Public Prosecution will carry out a swift and thorough investigation to uncover the truth and reasons of the death. Legal action will be determined according to the findings or our investigation."
He said the Public Prosecution has widened its investigations. "We looked into the preliminary medical reports and the statements of the mother and the restaurant staff to the police. The children's medical examination failed to reveal the cause of death. That is why the Public Prosecution ordered that a forensic doctor carry out an autopsy. We have also consented that the forensic doctor carry out the required check-ups and medical laboratory tests, locally or internationally, to arrive at the decisive reason of death," said the First Attorney General.
Meanwhile, Lotus Garden restaurant sent an e-mail to Gulf News, saying the management has not yet spoken to the family as the results of the investigation have not been made public.
The statement said the police arrived at the restaurant and closed it down till further notice on Saturday, June 13. It added that officials of the Food Control Section of Dubai Municipality collected various food samples from the restaurant before its closure.
"Officials called our customers who had ordered food on that Friday. Those customers confirmed that none of them had any problem or sickness after eating our take away or home delivery food. Neither there were any complaints of sickness among dine-in customers of that evening, which included children as well. Dubai Police also interrogated our staff over two days," the statement read.
The statement said the restaurant was hoping that results of laboratory tests would be out soon and that it would be allowed to open for business in a couple of days or after a week at most.
"However, it's been ten days now. Lots of negative things have been said about us. The anxiety is affecting the health of some of us. We are just praying that this nightmare gets over soon," the statement said.
However, over the weekend authorities indicated that, looking at the sensitivity of the case, the results would only be declared after investigations by Dubai Police are completed.
- With inputs from Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter, and Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
Community Reports
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
-
Closing U-turns creates new risks
Authorities urged to reopen closed U-turns or construct new ones on Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi Road in Sharjah
Latest news
- Help clean up Dubai beaches on Friday
- MasterChef's George Calombaris coming to UAE
- Dubai Appeal Court upholds death sentence
- Businesswoman denies making indecent gesture
- 369 truckers fined for traffic violations
- Al Ain Zoo: Four eland antelopes make debut
- Three men held for robbery in Sharjah
- Street lights needed
- Fund to settle unpaid loans of UAE citizens
- Dubai civic body trims costs to achieve surplus
- Fedex delivers when it comes to its employees
- A tale of two books: Unsung and unread
- Signing 1,951 books in single session
- Valentine's Day: The cost of love
- Viber still working in the UAE
