Hit-and-run offender remains at large

A motorist is unhappy that police have not tracked down the hit-and-run driver who damaged his car even though he says he gave officers the offending vehicle's registration number.

Dominic Perera, a Sri Lankan, said he has been forced to claim on his own insurance for the damage to his car. The 32-year-old said police should have pursued the driver of the four-wheel drive who caused Dh4,600 worth of damage to his Ford Mondeo's door late last month.

Police, however, say that they are unable to trace the vehicle that hit Perera's car because the registration number provided by the Sri Lankan does not match the description of the vehicle said to be a white Land Cruiser.

"I love vehicles. I am very cautious with other vehicles even when I open a door so naturally it hurts when someone hits your car and then runs away. It hurts even more and frustrates you when you know the details of the culprit and present them to the authorities, but nothing is done."

The left rear door of Perera's Mondeo, a 2003 model which he bought in January this year, was hit when he left the car in a "safe and deserted" area of Sharjah.

A taxi driver took down the details of the vehicle that caused the damage and Perera said he presented Sharjah police with the details. However, he said police told him to get his own insurers to pay for the repairs.

"I am disappointed there was no justice done in this matter. The culprit is enjoying his days and will not be afraid of banging another vehicle and getting away.

"I have to pay Dh200 out of my pocket to the insurance company and claim from my insurance, so losing my chances of getting a no-claims bonus.

"To make things worse, the amount the insurance company approved for replacement was only for a used door and not for a new one," he said, adding that taxi fares to work in Jebel Ali and other costs linked to the accident have cost him at least Dh1,000.

Captain Khalid Ahmad Sulaiman, Director of the Traffic Section at Al Buhairah Police Station in Sharjah, said police always investigate reports of traffic accidents fully.

"We received this complaint and it was obvious the man did not give a correct description of the car. We cannot arrest anyone if we do not have specific details," he said.

Sulaiman said the department was always keen to trace hit-and-run drivers because they have committed an offence by not reporting the incident to the police.

He added that Perera had full insurance and as he was given documents by the traffic department to say the incident was not his fault, he should not have to pay out his own pocket.