Philanthropists pay blood money for driver’s release
ras al khaimah — Finally, the dire plight of 40-year-old Haji, who was jailed for seven months in Ras Al Khaimah after unintentionally driving over a man sleeping under his water tanker, has come to an end.
The Pakistani driver, the breadwinner for ten family members back home, could not pay the Dh100,000 blood money after being convicted of the shared responsibility for the tragic death of the Asian. Haji’s story was promoted by Emarat Alyoum newspaper, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Media Inc.
Four generous donors helped put an end to Haji’s plight. One of them contributed Dh60,000 and another Dh20,000, while the other two donated Dh10,000 each, through a dedicated hotline.
Official sources said that Haji arrived in the UAE one year ago, on an employment visa as a water tanker driver with a road work contracting company.
“Three months later, he was sitting in the cabin of his tanker at a construction site when one of the workers asked him for some water. After drinking it, the worker went for a nap under the tanker.”
Haji, unaware of the fact that the worker is under the vehicle, drove the tanker after receiving a call from office. To his surprise, he heard a loud scream, but could see nothing. Another worker told him that the sleeping worker got crushed by the tyres of his tanker.
“Haji was referred to the RAK Traffic Misdemeanour Court, which convicted him of the shared responsibility of the worker’s death, and ordered him to pay a fine of Dh4,000 and Dh100,000 in blood money.”
Failing to make the payment after the insurance company refused to help, Haji remained in the RAK prison for seven months until his case was highlighted in the media, and the four philanthropists paid off the blood money in full.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com