Motorist who killed man in hit-and-run jailed

A motorist, who killed a pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident and later tried to flee the country has been convicted and sentenced to two months in jail.

The Dubai Traffic Court sentenced the 31-year-old Brazilian to two months in jail and ordered him to pay Dh150,000 in blood money to the family of the victim, a 29-year-old Briton. The defendant’s driving licence has also been suspended for six months, as per the court’s order.

The defendant was convicted of charges including drinking alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol, causing the death of a pedestrian and fleeing an accident scene.

The Traffic Prosecution has already appealed the verdict seeking a harsher punishment.

The Dubai Police arrested the accused from the Dubai International Airport’s Duty Free early morning on November 24, last year shortly before he was to board a flight.

Salah Bu Farroucha Al Felasi, the Dubai Traffic Chief Prosecutor, earlier said that the man admitted during interrogation that he was under the influence of alcohol when he ran over the victim, who was crossing a road in Al Sufouh area.

The pedestrian was killed on the spot and the driver fled the accident scene. The defendant then headed straight to his workplace and picked up his passport. He then tried to board a flight from the Dubai International Airport about three hours later but thanks to the swift action of the Dubai Police officers, the man was arrested before boarding the plane. “He was caught shopping at the Dubai Duty Free shortly before taking a flight to Lebanon,” the chief prosecutor said earlier.

Fortunately, a Lebanese man, who witnessed the accident as it happened, noted down the driver’s car plate number and called the police.

Al Felasi earlier pointed out that the accused breached the law by driving recklessly while drunk and fleeing the accident scene.

During investigation, the Brazilian admitted that he drank alcohol before the fatal accident.

mary@khaleejtimes.com