A Sharjah school and two members of its staff have been convicted of negligence after an unsupervised young pupil drowned in a swimming pool.
The Australian International School has been ordered to pay Dh140,000 in blood money to the family of the boy, 4, who died after returning to the pool after a swimming lesson last November.
A swimming instructor, 36, and his assistant, 44, were each fined Dh5,000 and ordered to pay Dh30,000 in blood money during a hearing at Sharjah Court of Misdemeanours on Tuesday.
Three other members of staff were found not guilty of negligence that caused a child's death.
The court ruled that the school did not have necessary measures in place to ensure the safety of the child.
The 100 metre-long pool lacked barriers to prevent unattended pupils from gaining access, the court heard.
The school, represented by its Emirati owner, 53, was charged with having criminal responsibility for its employees’ actions.
Court records stated that 23 children had been swimming in the school pool on the morning of the child's death on November 14.
The boy had returned to the pool, unbeknown to staff, at 10.15am.
He was found by a member of staff and taken to Al Qasimi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11am.
