Driver gets 6 months in jail for kicking man in street

Dubai: A driver has been sentenced to six months in jail for kicking another driver and permanently disabling him after they swore at each other in the street.

A 36-year-old Indian driver, H.K., was crossing the road in Deira when the 37-year-old Pakistani, W.Z., came speeding from the other end of the road and almost ran him over in October 2012.

The two swore at each other and then W.Z. kicked H.K. in the back, causing him an eight per cent permanent disability.

The Dubai Court of First Instance jailed W.Z. for assault and fined H.K. Dh2,000 for swearing at W.Z.

The defendants were sentenced in absentia after they failed to show up in court and enter their pleas.

H.K. told prosecutors questioning that W.Z. almost ran him down around 4.30am when he was walking to work.

“I left home and walked towards Hor Al Anz Road. I was crossing the road when W.Z. came speeding from the other end and almost hit me. He used his brakes quickly and managed to bring the car to a halt before the bumper hit my knees. I shouted at him and asked him if he could see. He shouted back and cursed me. I cursed him back and walked away...he stepped out of his taxi and kicked me in my back. I fell down on the ground and lost consciousness. I regained consciousness in the hospital,” said H.K.

A Pakistani witness said he called for an ambulance to take H.K. to hospital.