Court orders ''blood money'' to Indian girl's parents

Dubai, Nov 10 (UNI) A court has ordered a compensation of 100,000 Dirhams(Rs 12 lakh) as ''blood money'' to the parents of a five-year-old Indian schoolgirl, who was killed in a bus accident in Ajman.

The Ajman Civil Court of Appeal turned down the Indian parents' claim for million dirhams (Rs 3,60,00000) in psychological and moral compensation plus nine per cent legal interest.

The judge decided the ''blood money'', which the parents received from the Indian driver, guilty of accidentally running over the schoolgirl, covered the family's ''moral, financial and psychological loss''.

A court had earlier sentenced the driver, identified as M H, to a month in jail and ordered him to pay ''blood money'' to the girl's family. His driver's licence was revoked for a month, a report in the Gulf News said.

However, the parents sued the driver, school administration and insurance company which insured the vehicle, claiming 3 million dirhams in compensation. The girl was not named in the report.

The verdict is still subject to appeal to the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi.

UNI XC SI KP1445