Latest news with #DubaiAppellateCourt
Gulf Today
16-04-2025
- Gulf Today
Dubai court jails two for possessing and abusing drugs
Dubai Appellate Court upheld the court of First Instance's verdict sentencing an Asian national to life jail and another to six months, followed by deportation for both after serving their sentences. The suspects were charged with possession and trafficking in narcotics and were caught in the act inside a vehicle in Jebel Ali. The case dates back to 2024 when credible information was received about the second suspect possessing and abusing narcotics in Jebel Ali Industrial Area. A police man testified that investigations affirmed the second suspect was a drug abuser and in possession of narcotics. A warrant was allegedly issued by Dubai Public Prosecution for his arrest. A Criminal Investigation team located the second suspect, who was apprehended inside a vehicle driven by the first. Upon searching them, narcotics were found, and a plastic bag containing the same substance was found with the first suspect so, they were taken to the General Directorate of Anti-Narcotics, where samples were collected and the seized substances were sent to the Criminal Laboratory for analysis. The General Directorate of Forensic Evidence and Criminology report affirmed that the seized substances contained heroin, listed in Schedule 1 of the Federal Decree-Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and its amendments. The second suspect's sample tested positive for heroin use, which he admitted to, confessing that he had purchased the drugs from the first suspect for Dhs100. The first suspect denied drug trafficking charges, but evidence proved he was a drug trafficker who sold narcotics to the second.
Gulf Today
27-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Real Estate firm in Dubai compelled to return Dhs12.4 million to investor
The Dubai Appellate Court obligated a real estate developer to return Dhs12.4 million to an Arab investor, in addition to and a 5 per cent interest from Nov.19, 2024, until full payment. The investor allegedly signed an agreement to buy a floating villa, but the developer failed to fulfill its obligations regarding the timely delivery of the property. The investor revealed to Al Khaleej newspaper that he fell victim to a misleading real estate advertisement on social media platforms, adding that the ad promoted a project that attracted him after seeing an intensive advertising campaign, which suggested it was part of a major project in Dubai. The developer allegedly offered attractive deals and promised high returns, but the investor later discovered that the developer did not fulfill his commitments and that the project had no actual connection to the famous project being promoted. The investor explained that despite the court ruling in his favour to return his funds, he was unable to recover them due to the closure of bank accounts belonging to the developer's companies and the declaration of their bankruptcy. The investor revealed that many other investors had fallen victim to the same deception and are coordinating to take additional legal action. He called on the authorities to tighten control over real estate advertisements, especially on social media platforms, and to require developers to obtain official permits before promoting any project. He also pointed out that this case highlights the importance of raising investor awareness about potential risks in the real estate market, emphasising the need for thorough investigations before making significant investment decisions. Some misleading advertisements exploit the names of major projects to create false credibility, necessitating enhanced transparency and disclosure in the real estate sector to protect investors' rights, he added. The details date back to the time when the investor signed an agreement with the developer on August 2, 2016, to buy a floating villa. The investor committed to making payments as per the schedule specified in the contract. In 2019, the original agreement was amended to include new financial terms and a different payment schedule, which the investor accepted based on the developer's promises to deliver the villa on the new schedule with 8 per cent annual returns on investment. The developer then did not adhere to the deadlines or pay the returns, so the investor filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel the contract and recover his money. According to the case file, the developer clarified that the delay in handing over the villa was due to circumstances beyond his control. The court rejected his arguments, considering the delay was due to mismanagement of the project, adding that the developer did not provide any credible evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic or regulatory changes were the direct reason for the delay. The court then ordered the developer to return the investor the full amount of Dhs12.4 million, besides a 5 per cent legal interest until full payment, in addition to Dhs1 million in compensation for financial harms the investor sustained due to the delay. The developer also was obligated to pay the legal expenses and lawyer's fees. The court clarified that the investor attempted for two years to reach an amicable settlement with the developer before filing a lawsuit, but all of his attempts failed.
Gulf Today
26-02-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Patient gets Dhs1 million compensation for medical error at a Dubai hospital
Dubai Appellate Court has issued a ruling compensating an Arab patient with Dhs1 million, after he suffered a severe medical error during a surgery at a private hospital in Dubai, resulting in permanent brain damage and a coma. The Court of First Instance had previously ruled to compensate the patient with Dhs7.5 million, but both the hospital and the patient's family appealed the verdict. The details of the case date back to March 2023, when the patient underwent a surgical procedure using laser to remove a cervical disc and local injection of cortisone, under the supervision of a medical team consisting of a surgeon and an anesthesiologist. After the operation, the patient allegedly experienced serious complications which resulted in a complete brain damage due to oxygen deprivation, causing him to fall into a permanent coma. The patient's family filed a complaint with the Medical Liability Committee at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and then with the Higher Medical Liability Committee (HMLC). Both committees affirmed in their reports that a severe medical error had occurred, along with negligence on the part of the anesthesiologist for leaving the operating room before the patient regained consciousness. The report concluded that both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist were held responsible for the error, with a 50% share of responsibility for each. The patient's family filed a compensation claim before the civil court, demanding a compensation of Dhs57 million for the material and moral damages they suffered due to the loss of their primary breadwinner. After examining the case, the Court of First Instance issued a ruling obliging the hospital and the doctors to pay a compensation of Dhs7.5 million, with a legal interest of 5% annually from the date of the ruling until full payment. Following the ruling, both parties filed appeals before the Appellate Court and the plaintiffs demanded an increase in the compensation amount to Dhs57 million, while the appellees challenged the ruling, requesting complete annulment. After examining the appeals, the Appellate Court decided to modify the ruling of the Court of First Instance by reducing the compensation amount to Dhs1 million. The court also ordered the appellees to jointly pay the amount, along with bearing the legal fees. Dr Alaa Nasr, the legal representative of the patient and his family, stated that determining the compensation amount is the court's responsibility, that assesses it based on its estimation of the material and moral damages incurred by the harmed party.
