Dubai: A traffic accident victim, almost paralysed from the neck down, is appealing to people to help the driver responsible for his plight so that the latter can pay him Dh530,000 in compensation and get out of jail in the bargain.
Emirati motorist Abdul Raouf Hattawi was ordered to pay about Dh830,000 to Pakistani victim Saeed Abdullah by a Sharjah court in 2007, but he only managed to hand over close to Dh300,000. It is understood Hattawi will remain locked up in Sharjah until he pays the full amount.
Abdullah said an ongoing donation campaign for Hattawi could help settle the Dh530,000 balance. "If people donate to him [Hattawi], he'll be able to pay me. I'll get money for treatment and he'll be free. Otherwise this will drag on and on, we'll both suffer," said Abdullah, who used to work as a salesman before tragedy struck.
Abdullah, 32, had told XPRESS about how his father allegedly fled to Pakistan with some Dh250,000 of his pay-out money.
There are "conflicting reports" that much of the outstanding amount has been raised or pledged, said Lisa Kingsley, 29, a British social worker caring for Abdullah. "We can't be sure until the court hands it over. It'll have to be kept safe, not like what happened last time," Kingsley, founder of welfare group Basics UAE, said.
The campaign, which began in Ramadan, has been highlighted in the Arab media in the UAE.
Hattawi lost his job at Dubai Municipality after his imprisonment and his wife and six children now live in "difficult conditions", a report said last week.
Abdullah meanwhile has lost virtually all control and sensation from the neck down after suffering serious injuries in the horrific 2005 accident.
Medical reports in 2005 said Abdullah would need life-long therapy and medicines, with slim chance of significant recovery if treatment did not begin immediately.
"It's not important where the money comes from as long as it comes in time. Still, it won't last too long, considering the great medical costs," said Kingsley.
She added that Abdullah is "highly intelligent and computer-wise" and can work from his home laptop in the meanwhile if given a chance.
