Child's death in Abu Dhabi school bus: Defendants plead not guilty

A bus driver and a female school supervisor on the vehicle were jailed in Abu Dhabi as the trial of defendants involved in the death of a four-year-old Indian school girl on that bus opened in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Both defendants, the school head and a teacher responsible for pupil attendance pleaded not guilty in the case that has sent shock waves through the UAE.

The prosecutor charged the defendants of negligence that led to the death of Naziha but decided to free the head of Al Worood Academy school and his aide on bail. The bus driver and the female supervisor would remain in prison during hearings.

Newspapers said the judge later adjourned hearings to November 19 to hear more statements by the defendants, prosecutor and defence lawyers.

The bus driver told court on Wednesday that he was not responsible for Naziha’s death on the bus on the grounds he has instructions from his transport company just to drive the bus and not deal with the pupils.

The teacher responsible for attendance also denied responsibility, saying her job is confined only to dealing with day to day pupil’s problems not their absence. The school principal also pleaded not guilty but made no statement.

The victim’s father Nazir Ahmed, who attended hearings, said he would not rest before all those responsible for his daughter’s death are punished.

Naziha was found dead after she fell asleep on the bus just before the start of the school day. The girl had apparently spent several hours on the bus after the supervisor went into school the driver locked the bus on a hot day.

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