Fujairah: Never again.
The two words are ringing loudly in the head of Emirati daughter Ayisha Ali Abdullah, whose father was shown in a video being beaten by a domestic helper later arrested by authorities for assaulting the old man in his care.
In an interview with Gulf News on Thursday, Ayisha said her family has decided never to trust again a stranger to care for their father in their home located in the centre of the Wasit area in Dibba, Al Fujairah.
The video sparked outrage across the UAE and beyond, footage shot by hidden camera by the family of the 80-year-old man when family members suspected he was being assaulted since the health care helper began working with the family four months before.
Minister of Social Services Mariam Al Roumi said this week that the ministry is preparing a draft law to protect seniors to prevent such a tragedies from happening.
The old man now lives with his wife and daughter Ayisha, who recently had open-heart surgery.
In an exclusive interview following Gulf News’ visit to the family’s residence, Ayisha said she was “shocked to watch the video footage” of her father’s helper beating up her “helpless father and also kicking him.”
Ayisha said all this happened while the family were away at work.
The filming was done only for one day and captured the helper pretending to be nice with the old man in front of the family but becoming violent later on.
Ayisha aid she was shocked at the helper’s behaviour especially since they family have been treated him kindlyduring his four months service with them.
Ayisha said she had decided to take care of her father alone with the help of her family members despite she had open-heart-surgery recently .
Ayisha said that her mother and her uncles from the same age were very sad to see the footage of their old man and from that time they surround him and never wish to leave him for a moment .
Hassin Yousif, grandson of the victim, told Gulf News that the family noticed a sudden change in body of their grandfather who began to suffer from fear and other psychological disorders.
Hassin said that when police confronted the helper with the recording, he started beating with his hands on his head and crying.
The 28-year-old helper admitted the assault of his elderly employer after being caught on camera.
The helper told police that he lashed out because the old man never gave him a moment’s rest. Major Saeed Al Hassani, Director of Media and Public Relation department at Fujairah Police, told Gulf News that helper, identified as M.S.A, said the case was referred to the public prosecution for further action.
