for the way the policman conducted himself, praise for the Dubai police Chief.
However, this case came to light because of the persistance of a driver involved in the accident - otherwise this would have just been shoved under the carpet.
There are hundreds more incidents taking place which go unreported and do not make it to the papers...................
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Dubai: A policeman might face termination for striking an Indian motorist involved in a minor traffic accident recently, Chief of Dubai Police has said.
The incident happened on July 2 when both an Arab cartoonist and the Indian man were involved in a minor road accident and called the traffic police to report the matter.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, told Gulf News the behaviour of the police officer was "completely unacceptable, regardless of what might have ignited the incident. Police officers have no right to assault anyone except in case of self-defence, which in this case it wasn't."
"The complainant has every right to file a civil or a military case against the officer. As for us, the detained police officer will be punished based on our laws and might face termination," he said.
The matter was brought to the attention of Lt Gen Dahi due to the persistence of the Arab motorist, who caused the accident, in reporting the matter to police authorities.
"Finding fairness and justice makes you feel at home and this is what I found in Dubai Police under the leadership of [Lt Gen Dahi] who took an interest in a small incident and restored to the Indian man and me our rights," said Hassan Abdul Hamid Edelbi, a cartoonist with the Arabic daily Al Bayan.
Hassan was also honoured and given a certificate of appreciation by the Dubai Police Chief for reporting the incident.
According to Hassan, the minor accident that he caused in Jumeirah ended in a series of unfortunate events starting with the police officer addressing them in an impolite manner before instructing them to move out from the traffic to a nearby spot.
The other motorist made a u-turn to return to the area designated by the police officer. The police officer went after him and asked him why he had moved.
The conversation led to the Indian being slapped in the face by the policeman, an event which Hassan witnessed.
"I was completely shocked [by] what I saw because I know [from] living here and from my friends of the great reputation of Dubai Police. That's why I didn't have any doubts [about reporting] the matter to the police," he said.
Driven by guilt because of having caused the accident and witnessing the man slapped in front of his wife, Hassan made his complaint by telephone that evening. The cartoonist reported the incident and insisted on taking it further, especially when he was accused by the police station of giving a false report because the Indian man, who was scared of losing his job, did not tell the truth and testified that he was not slapped by the policeman.
However, Lt Gen Dahi, who was later informed about the incident, responded by investigating the case and making every possible effort to find out the truth.
"Where do you find such a noble behaviour in any of our Arab countries! The Chief of Dubai Police personally invited me to his office, honoured and welcomed me for over an hour while apologising to me ..."
He said that Lt Gen Dahi later visited the Indian man.
Hassan added: "The chief's reaction was the most beautiful portrayal of great leadership."
