Burj Al Arab should have protected son, parents say

Dubai: The family of a jeweller who was killed in a fight at Burj Al Arab in 2006, is suing the hotel for failing to save their son due to negligence.

The Dubai Civil Court is studying the lawsuit filed by the parents of Syrian jeweller R.A.S. who claimed that proper care could have saved his life, Gulf News as learnt.

The jeweller was 31 when he died.

Dubai Police earlier said R.A.S. died in a fight in a room at the Burj Al Arab where he and his 30-year-old compatriot, A.J.N., had gone to sell diamonds worth $255,000 (Dh935,850) to a group of Russian businessmen.

The victim's successors, his father and mother, claimed in their lawsuit that a Kazakh woman, Z., and a European man, A.L., escorted their son and A.J.N. to the hotel to sell some diamonds to a Russian group on September 26, 2006.

The claimants alleged that a Russian man, M., who had rented a room in the hotel, received R.A.S., A.J.N. and their escorts. Two other men were also present in the room.

The claimants said in their lawsuit it was strange that M. received the victim in a room - that had five persons - and not at the high-security hotel lobby.

The security personnel and members of the hotel staff should have rendered proper help and assistance to their son, the father and mother alleged in their lawsuit.

They also claimed that M. had paid around $300 (about Dh1,100) and deposited a photocopy of his passport with the hotel staff when he checked in. "An elite hotel with high international standards should have accepted an original identity from M. and should have charged him more for the room."

'Proper compensation'

"His death has brought us financial and moral loss. He used to be the family's sole breadwinner. But for the hotel staff's negligence and lack of promptness in carrying out their job properly, our son could have been alive. We leave it to the court to decide on the proper compensation amount for our loss," the claimant's said in their lawsuit.

During Wednesday's hearing, the Dubai Civil Court ordered the claimants to submit proper documentation to prove they were the successors of R.A.S. The court adjourned the proceedings till October 5.

Burj Al Arab's legal representatives are expected to submit their legal response to the case soon.

Dubai Public Prosecution had earlier discharged a Kazakh woman and a Russian man of being involved in R.A.S.'s murder for lack of corroborative evidence.

The culprits are still at large.