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Father ‘sorry’ for indirectly causing teenager’s death in RAK

In a telephonic interview with a local radio channel, the father, who is in his 60s, said he “regrets” throwing his son out of home.

The father of a 19-year-old boy, who died in a run-over accident two weeks ago, expressed regret after he was criticised for “indirectly causing” his son’s death.

The Arab deceased, identified as Khalil Ibrahim, was run over when he was crossing Shaikh Rashid Street in Ras Al Khaimah last Thursday. Witnesses said he looked exhausted and was unaware of his surroundings when he crossed the street.

His body lay unclaimed in the morgue of Saqr Hospital in RAK for three days. On the fourth day, his friends and father turned up to claim his body and a scuffle ensued between them.

Ibrahim’s friends said the deceased was homeless and lived with his friends, after his father’s second wife expelled him from their home three months ago because “he overstepped his legal age”.

In a telephonic interview with a local radio channel, the father, who is in his 60s, said he “regrets” throwing his son out of home.

To an Arabic daily, he said: “My second wife is in charge of the family affairs, especially financial matters, because I’m jobless. Ever since my second marriage, we have had several domestic disputes because my second wife did not want to stay with my adult son.”

He claimed that his second wife would beat his son on a daily basis. “As a result, my son began to lag in his studies and he dropped out of class 10.”

The woman then reportedly filed a complaint with the bodies concerned demanding that the deceased leave the house. “I had to sign an undertaking that my son would leave the house as soon as possible.”

“I cannot separate from my second wife as I want to take care of my other children. I do not own a house. That’s why I’m at her mercy,” he added.

He said he rented a room for his son on a sharing basis.

“I saw him last 10 days ago at a coffee shop. I told him that his residence visa was going to expire soon and advised him to try and bring money to renew it.”

malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com