In a daring move, the Abu Dhabi court of appeal today reduced the sentence of the parents who severely abused their nine-year old daughter to a total of seven years. The father and the stepmother of the child were sentenced to 10 years on April 26 by the Criminal Court of First Instance and fined Dh160,000 (US$44,000). The sentence was appealed by the public prosecution for its leniency and the parents appealed for a lower sentence. The Appeal Court hearing was closed to the public at the request of the father. The judge has yet to release the reasons for sentencing, but it is believed the sentence was reduced in light of the parents other children whose fate is not known. The girl, who has been recovering in Al Mafraq Hospital, was brought into the hospitalby her father in February, claiming she had fallen off her bicycle. The doctors doubted the father's testimony and contacted the police. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, visited her in hospital along with his daughter. Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Minister of Interior, both spoke out against child abuse.
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