Worker ‘started fires on site and incited others to protest’

A 42-year-old construction worker is accused of setting fire to a building on site and risking the lives of others in protest at working conditions after a colleague died, Dubai Criminal Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutors said that on May 18, the Indian defendant was one of several labourers who started the fire in a warehouse and damaged villas at a development in Dubai.

His colleague had died that morning and the defendant allegedly started encouraging his colleagues to protest.

“After the worker died – due to natural causes – everything went well, and we reported the death to the police, so we could arrange to send the dead body home,” said a Sudanese representative of the construction company.

“A few hours later, the defendant started talking to other workers and inciting them to protest. They also damaged a number of the company’s vehicles and other equipment,” said the representative, who called police. Riot police arrived and got the angry workers under control before arresting the defendant.

“We received a report of the incident and, when we headed there, other workers said that the defendant was behind what had happened,” said an Emirati policeman.

The workers caused Dh12.6 million in damages.

In court the Indian denied the charges. A verdict is expected on October 29.