Child dies of chemicals used to kill cockroaches in UAE

Representational Image

A cleaning company that was convicted of causing death of a child who died after inhaling poisonous chemicals sprayed in their home in the capital to kill cockroaches has had its fine sentence cut to Dh50,000 on appeal.
Official court documents stated that the girl's Arab father had hired the Abu Dhabi based cleaning company to clean his house and also get rid of the cockroaches that were inside.
After cleaning the house during the morning, workers of the cleaning firm allegedly used bad chemicals to kill the cockroaches in the house as the family was away.
The man's family returned during the evening and slept in the house that night.
And in the morning, the parents checked on their child who was under  three years of age and only to find her dead in her bed.
The child's body was taken to the hospital and doctors found out that the child inhaled poisonous chemicals which caused her death.
Police investigated the matter after the medical report stated that the child died of fumes from bad chemicals.
Police investigations suggested that the cause of death Arab child was due to chemical poisoning owing to pesticide usage in her home.
The force also found out that the cleaning company had no license for control of insects and pests in people's homes.
Prosecutors had charged the owner of the company with manslaughter and illegal provision of pest control services.
Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance had earlier had earlier fined the company Dh100,000 for providing pest control services without a license and also ordered the owner to pay another Dh30,000 for causing the death of the child.
The company was also ordered to pay blood money to the girl's family.
The owner however, challenged the sentences to the Abu Dhabi Appeal Court which has maintained the first ruling but reduced the fines to Dh50,000 and Dh20,000.
The Appeal Court judge also ordered the company to pay blood money to the child's parents.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com