Worker assaults three-year-old, then tells court childcare was not her job

In Abu Dhabi, a domestic worker has been ordered to pay Dh10,000 in compensation to a mother whose three-year-old child was assaulted by her. The incident resulted in scratches on the child's chest and jaw, as reported by Emarat Al Youm. The worker, who had been employed as a driver, was also given a suspended one-month prison sentence and a Dh3,000 fine.

The mother sought Dh25,000 in compensation for both material and emotional harm, along with interest at 5% and court costs. The worker argued that the child was not under her care and that the assault was malicious, stemming from a dispute over unpaid wages. However, the court dismissed this attempt and found that the final criminal conviction established the assault as a fact.

The court acknowledged the child's physical injuries, the treatment costs, and the emotional distress experienced by both the child and the mother. Consequently, the mother was awarded Dh10,000 in compensation, with interest added until the judgment becomes final and binding.