• Home
• /
• Crime and Courts

Parents could be jailed for abandoning their children in UAE

Dubai - The parents who dump their newborn babies face the same legal liability.

---

---

The police suspect the boy was abandoned at the mall, but have not ruled out other possibilities.

Emirati lawyer Abdul Moneim bin Suwaidan of Bin Suwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants said the child is his parents' responsibility. If it is proven that the boy was left intentionally by them, they will face the charge of putting his life at risk.

"Abandoning a child of this age would put him/her in the harm's way. Strangers could commit crimes against the minor due to the parents' negligence. This will make the parents liable - they will be held accountable and referred to trial."

If criminal intent is proven on the part of the parents, they will be prosecuted under the Federal Penal Code and the Wadeema Law.

The parents who dump their newborn babies face the same legal liability.

If both parents or one parent is traced, they will be prosecuted and the priority is for them to take care of the baby.

If the parents remain unidentified or untraceable, and in case a local family wants to take care of the child, they need to go to the Personal Status Court to get a certificate for custody and care.

mary@khaleejtimes.com 

• Crime and Courts
• Dubai