Judges have ordered the arrest of a Malaysian man who abducted his son and took him to Dubai.
The man defied an order by Dubai Personal Status Court awarding custody to his ex-wife, who is still waiting to be reunited with her son, and remains at large.
The court heard how the man took his son from Malaysia in December 2018, two years after he and the child’s mother got a divorce.
He brought the nine-year-old to Dubai after claiming that he was taking the boy on a holiday.
Then the man stopped responding to the child's Malaysian mother, 38. Instead, he sent her messages threatening to take the boy away.
The woman filed a custody case against her ex-husband but it was dismissed by Dubai's Courts of First Instance and Appeal because of lack of jurisdiction.
At the Cassation Court however, this was overturned and a new panel of judges at Dubai's Personal Status Court heard her case again.
Judge Faraj Al Galawi was told the man breached an undertaking he signed in a Malaysian court pledging to bring the boy back.
He also heard how the man had not been providing for his family in their home country.
An application for his arrest was filed by Emirati lawyer, Awatif Khouri, representing the child’s mother.
The court awarded custody of the child to his mother - who arrived to Dubai on July 8 when restrictions on international flights were eased - hoping to be reunited with her son.
“A mother is the most deserving of the custody of her child,” he said in his judgement.
After the man failed to follow the ruling ordering him to hand the boy to his mother, an application for his arrest was filed with the court.
Police discovered he had resigned his job and are now trying to locate him. He has also been hit with a travel ban.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
