Dubai cell fire prisoner has jail sentence cut

DUBAI // A prisoner who set fire to his cell had a jail sentence reduced from six months to three by the Criminal Court yesterday.

ME, 32, was in prison on drug charges when on October 15, 2010, he used paper and a lighter to start a fire in his cell. He also set fire to himself.

He was rescued by a policeman who noticed heavy smoke coming from his cell.

"He told me he wished to die and said to me: 'God forgive you, why did you save me?'" recalled the policeman.

Prosecutors charged him with attempted suicide, endangering the lives of policemen and other detainees, and damaging public property.

He was originally convicted and sentenced to a further six months in jail and fined Dh1,650, but on appeal this was reduced this to three months and the court ruled that, rather than a fine, he should pay Dh1,650 for the damages he had caused.

At a previous hearing the inmate, an Emirati, told the court he was schizophrenic and had received electric shock treatment. He also stripped off his shirt to show the judges his tattoos, which he described as the only thing he had gained from being in prison.

salamir@thenational.ae

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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Electric scooters: some rules to remember

Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes