UAE: Compensation for couple after cleaner peeps into hotel room

Ras Al Khaimah - Earlier, the lower court had ordered the hotel management and cleaner to pay a compensation of Dh50,000, while the latter was sentenced to two months in jail.

The Ras Al Khaimah Court of Appeal has awarded an Arab man Dh20,000 in compensation after a staff cleaner was found guilty of peeping into the plaintiff's suite in a hotel, where he was staying with his wife.

Earlier, the lower court had ordered the hotel management and cleaner to pay a compensation of Dh50,000, while the latter was sentenced to two months in jail.

The hotel management, which challenged the ruling of the lower court, was also ordered to pay court charges and the lawyer’s fees.

Court records show that the man caught the cleaner peeping and handed him over to the RAK Police.

He was interrogated by the RAK Public Prosecution which charged him with peeping into the suite, and referred him to the RAK Misdemeanour Court, where he was convicted and sentenced.

The husband took the case to the RAK Civil Court seeking compensation against the moral damages he and his wife suffered because of the cleaner despite the fact that he paid extra money to the hotel for more privacy.

The RAK Civil Court ordered the cleaner and hotel management to pay Dh50,000 in compensation to the plaintiff against the moral damages the man and his wife suffered.

The hotel management contested the verdict in the higher court (appellate court) arguing that it was null and void because the erring staff committed his crime without its knowledge or consent.

“All the due requirements, including a good conduct certificate, were observed when recruiting the defendant, and hence the hotel cannot be held responsible for his mistakes.”

The hotel management requested the Dh50,000 compensation to be reduced to Dh5,000, particularly as the plaintiff wanted to sue them again on behalf of his wife and children.

The court stated that the plaintiff and his family were apprehensive that the defendant had taken photos of them, and that caused psychological and moral trauma to them.

However, the Dh50,000 compensation ruled by the lower court was reduced to Dh20,000.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah