Drink-driving convict seeks mercy

Dubai: A Briton who denied driving under the influence of liquor - when he accidentally killed two passengers after jumping a red-light - is seeking clemency, his lawyer told a court on Thursday.

The 36-year-old identified as, M.A., yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of consuming liquor and driving under the influence, when he appeared before the Dubai Court of Appeal.

"My client is seeking the Appeals Court for leniency & the accident didn't happen due to drunken driving," said defence lawyer Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi, of Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi Advocates and Legal Consultants. A traffic police officer had earlier announced in the local press that the road works and diversions on Mankhool Road were the cause of the accident.

"Basically, we are pleading that M.A. is innocent and we are seeking to reduce his imprisonment and cancel his deportation order which was ruled by the Dubai Court of First Instance," said Al Shamsi.

The Court of First Instance earlier sentenced M.A. to one year in jail followed by deportation. He was also ordered to pay Dh400,000 in blood money to the victims' families, fined him Dh5,000 and his driving licence revoked for one year.

The Traffic Public Prosecution earlier charged him with reckless driving, jumping a red signal and ramming a tourist's 4x4 vehicle, killing two and injuring six others when he drove under the influence of liquor.

Al Shamsi told the Appeals Court yesterday that his client deposited Dh400,000 in the court's treasury. "The injured victims also waived their rights& my client is an investor and has bought property in the UAE. We plead the court to cancel his deportation order and reduce his punishment so that it doesn't hurt his family's future," Al Shamsi pleaded.

Records identified the deceased as a 58-year-old British passenger, who was seated in the convict's vehicle, and a 47-year-old Pakistani national, who was in the tourist's car. The appeals verdict is expected soon.