Dubai: A student has been accused of punching a driver and causing him a permanent disability in his ear following a road rage incident, heard a court on Monday.
The 51-year-old Pakistani driver, who works for a public department, was said to be driving when the Jordanian student tailgated him and flashed the high beam to give him way in February.
Not being able to respond swiftly, the Pakistani continued driving before the Jordanian intentionally hit his vehicle from the rear side, said records.
The enraged student then jumped out of his car, indulged in a heated argument with the driver and punched him hard on his ear, the records said.
The Pakistani man reported the matter to the police who later summoned the student for questioning.
Prosecutors accused the suspect of punching the driver and causing him a 10 per cent permanent disability in his ear.
The Jordanian suspect pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
He argued before presiding judge Urfan Omar: “I did not cause him the permanent disability. We had a heated argument that developed into a fight … we brawled but I am sorry and I didn’t mean to assault him.”
The Pakistani driver told prosecutors that the suspect in his vehicle suddenly appeared behind him and wanted him to give him way at 10.30am.
“I was not able to respond quickly and give him way … suddenly he hit my vehicle in the back. Then he jumped out of his car, came towards me and shouted at me. Then he gave a hard blow on my ear … he got angrier when he saw me clicking pictures to document the damages that he had caused to the public-department car that I was driving. He also snatched the phone away from my hand … my co-worker intervened and stopped him from continuing his assault. Then he kicked me in my waist. I called the police and reported to them what had happened … but after waiting for a period, my co-worker and I drove to the police station. We told them what had happened, but I was asked to return to the accident location,” he testified to prosecutors.
The court reconvenes on December 18.
