Student knocks out municipal worker

DUBAI: A student who punched a Dubai Municipality worker and impaired his hearing during a road rage incident expressed remorse in court on Monday.

The Arab student, 24, punched and kicked the Pakistani victim, 51, during a fracas at a street in Bur Dubai at around 10:30pm on Feb 26, leaving him with a 10 per cent permanent hearing deformity.

Prosecutors asked the Dubai Criminal Court to hand him a tougher penalty. He denied and argued that he did not cause the deformity. “We had disputed and a ight broke out,” he contended.

“He beat me and I beat him. On my part, I realise what happened was wrong. I am sorry.” His lawyer asked the court for time to prepare his defence. The hearing was adjourned till Dec 18.

The victim narrated that he was on duty in the Dubai Municipality’s car with an Egyptian workmate when the student – whose car was behind theirs - repeatedly honked the horn, telling them to accelerate.

“I was not able to give him way. He deliberately rammed his car into ours, stepped out and approached us while shouting loudly. I photographed his car to document the accident.

“This infuriated him and he grabbed my mobile phone. My workmate tried to convince him to return it. He punched me. I lost my balance. My workmate hurried to seize me then stopped the dispute.

“I was also preparing to strike back but my workmate seized me. Nonetheless, the student took us off guard and kicked me in the waist,” the worker complained. He contacted the police.