Justice eludes victim despite court verdict

ABU DHABI — Justice has been playing hide and seek with Santokh Lal, a carpenter from Punjab who had lost his leg in a car accident three years ago.

By Anjana Sankar

Published: Sat 2 Oct 2004, 10:09 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:36 PM

Even a favourable court verdict ordering a compensation of Dh138,000 couldn’t bring justice for him as the convict is still reported to be absconding by the Al Ain police.

Santokh, an Al Dhafra International Projects employee, met with the accident in late 2001 when a national rammed his car into him while he was working on a pavement in Al Ain. His left leg was amputated as a result of the accident.

The Court of First Instance ordered the national to pay compensation of Dh138,000 and the appeal court also upheld the verdict on June 26, 2002. But even after two years of obtaining the verdict, justice is denied to him as the culprit remains elusive.

Speaking to Khaleej Times during the Open House held yesterday at the Indian embassy, Santokh said that the national is still in the country as he has seen him even 20 days before. “I appealed to him to pay me the money and he asked me to contact him on his mobile after two weeks. Since then I have been trying him incessantly. But he never comes on the line.”

According to him, the national was drunk when the accident occurred and the legal consultant to the embassy also supports the allegation pointing that the insurance company of the national has washed their hands off the case due to that reason.

Handicapped and without a job for more than three years, Santokh says he is knee-deep in debt.

“I am surviving with the help of my friends who look after my day to day expenses. The company has not cancelled my visa so that I will hopefully receive the money,” he said. He added that he has not been able to make it home when his mother expired last year due to his dire financial situation. “I have my family to support and this compensation amount is my last straw.” The Indian embassy has assured him that they will take up the case with the Ministry of Labour affairs.