Prisoner beaten by guards rejects settlement offer



DUBAI // A former prisoner who is suing Dubai Police for Dh5 million (US$1.4m) after an attack by prison guards left him permanently disabled has turned down an out-of-court settlement offer, his lawyer said. SC, 42, an Armenian businessman, suffered severe spinal injuries when wardens at Al Aweer Central Jail beat him on August 1, 2007.

The attack took place while they were searching his cell during a wider operation at the prison. Last year, at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, four senior officers, five corporals and 16 guards were found guilty of abuse of power, conspiracy and assault following a police investigation into treatment of prisoners at the jail. During the three-month trial, 12 inmates from the jail testified that they had been assaulted by guards, five of whom were convicted of assaulting and permanently disabling SC.

All those convicted appealed. In June, the Dubai Court of Appeals upheld the convictions. The civil trial opened earlier this week. SC is suing for "medical, emotional and financial damages". Prosecution documents presented at the criminal trial stated that SC was beaten so severely that he suffered spinal injuries requiring surgery at Rashid Hospital. In their defence, the five guards convicted of assaulting SC claimed he had sustained his injuries when he fell down a flight of steps during the search of the prison.

The civil action implicates them and two senior officers. "He has been severely hurt in this assault," said his legal representative Aisha al Tunaiji, of Eve Advocates and Legal Consultants. "He is still being treated and has [had] a number of operations." SC was convicted of a criminal offence while on holiday in Dubai in early 2007. He has been in rehabilitation in a Dubai hospital since his release, according to Ms al Tunaiji.

By law, civil actions cannot be taken against government bodies until they have been given the chance to offer a settlement. "He was not satisfied with the Dubai Police settlement offer and stated that he wanted to take them to court," said Ms al Tunaiji. The civil action against Dubai Police, whose General Department of Punitive and Correctional Establishments is responsible for prisons, claims SC sustained a "10 per cent permanent disability" as a direct result of the assault.

Ms al Tunaiji said the civil case was filed last year and had only come to court now after the police failed to reach a settlement agreement with her client. Dubai Police and the Dubai Government's legal affairs office are contesting the action. amustafa@thenational.ae

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital

 


 

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Install an air filter in your home.

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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Results

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THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

The chef's advice

Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.

“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”

Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.

The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

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Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

2. Stronger dollar

High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.” 

3. Global trade war

Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

4. Eurozone uncertainty

Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.

Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt

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My Country: A Syrian Memoir

Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.