Job Discussion Forums

janejohn · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 13 Location: ME or Oz

My friend was recently involved in a minor road rage incident which is causing her a great deal of stress, expense and inconvenience.
Her story was that she tooted a young Omani who cut in front of her. His story was that she made a rude gesture and tried to run him off the road.
The two cars didn't make contact and neither was damaged in any way.
No words were exchanged and neither party got out of their car.

My friend was shocked to receive a summons to the police station where she was told to either pay 5,000 OR compensation or attend court. She had to hand her passport to police. She then hired a lawyer to whom she has since paid 600 OR just to hear the case. At the court hearing the case was dismissed and charges dropped. However shortly after my friend received notice of an appeal and request to attend another hearing mid June. Meantime she has been without her passport for over two months and doesn't know if she'll be able to go home for summer.

How could such a trivial incident reach the courts, and how can such
outrageous demands for compensation be treated seriously?

In another horror story, a friend hired a very old Toyota (with over 300.000 kms clocked up) from a dodgy dealer in the provinces.
After a couple of months the car clapped out. The dealer is threatening to sue my friend for the cost of all repairs including installing a reconditioned engine.

What's with these gangsters?

Just thought I'd let everyone know to be careful. Mad

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You find this type of people everywhere... otherwise there wouldn't be all those used car salesman jokes. Laughing

I have always advised people to never buy a car from these places in Oman. (or anywhere else in the Gulf) I guess one better read the fine print on any lease too. But, I live in the world champion nation of idiots who use the legal system to harass people. Thousands upon thousands of trivial lawsuits like this have clogged our system for years with no decrease in sight. Not to mention that in road rage incidences, one can quite possibly be shot to death.

There was one case that I remember from Oman where one of the teachers got dragged into court by a Minister who was upset that the fellow didn't get his car out of the way fast enough when he flashed his lights at him. This is when you want to have a good employer to help you out. The case was withdrawn when they negotiated that he should write a properly submissive letter apologizing for impeding His Importanceness on his way to wherever.

Every country has its obnoxious a-holes. Rolling Eyes

One disadvantage of educating people is that they learn to game the legal system. One positive sign is that the court has thrown the suit out once, so they know this fellow is being an idiot. She probably needs an Omani friend to intervene personally, in traditional fashion as a go-between, to end this. Otherwise, unfortunately, it may be time for her to move on to another country.

VS

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Janejohn,

Your friend ended up in court because what she is accused of doing is against the law in Oman. It is as simple as that.

Different countries have different laws. In the UK it is NOT illiegal to jaywalk, In the USA jaywalking IS illegal, and therefore one can be arrested simply, and literally, for crossing the road.

Last year, I was involved in a case of road rage. The car in which I was a passenger narrowly missed hitting another car. The expatriate driver of that car got out, addressed the driver of my car as "You stupid F*****G woman" and then spat on the car.

Later that day we reported him to the Royal Oman Police and he received a summons. Unfortunately, by the time that the case came to the public prosectutor's office, the woman involved was in the last stages of moving to a new position, and she literally could not afford the time to go to court.

Had it been me, I would have pursued him all the way. I would have wanted a full, public apology, compensation and a guarantee that his residence permit would not be renewed.

Beachee · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Beachee head

I have also come across this case and in fact janejohn is being incredibly nice to the Omani driver involved. What she did not write in her post was that the driver followed the single female driver for a considerable distance harrassing her. According to his statement at the time, he called the police and THEY told him to follow her and get her number plate details.

This case has been going on for a while and is totally awful. The company is being very supportive to the woman concerned. I sincerely hope that the justice system sees sense and does not continue to pursue this case.

This is only one example.

Tiffany Spangles · Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 8

Janejohn,

Sorry to hear about your friend's problems. If she says no gestures were made, then she is being maligned. However, if a gesture was made by a Westerner to an Omani, then the opportunity for financial gain and retribution on the part of the local involved is too good for him to miss. I have heard of several well-documented cases of this nature. To all intents and purposes, it is a scam.

In my experience of driving in Oman, one is constantly provoked by appalling local drivers, e.g. being cut up, being flashed from behind, sudden stopping without indication and being the target of verbal abuse. In such situations, my advice is to smile, count to ten, cuss under your breath but never be tempted to use gestures or verbal insults. This will normally defuse any potential confrontation.

I am glad to hear that the Company, the name of which you neglect to mention (but I have an inkling which one it is) is giving your friend full support. I have heard of other companies in such situations washing their hands of such affairs and leaving the poor, defenceless employee to their sorry fate.

Tiff

Borealis · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 26

[quote="Neil McBeath"]Janejohn,

[i]"Had it been me, I would have pursued him all the way. I would have wanted a full, public apology, compensation and a guarantee that his residence permit would not be renewed."[size=9][/size][/i]

Hmmm. A somewhat over the top reaction to such an 'offence', isn't it? Surely your reaction is an example of road rage too? You would have pursued revenge on a person who was probably extremely shocked to have narrowly escaped being driven into by your friend? Shouldn't it have been your friend who apologised for her careless driving and potential injury to this man?

B.

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

lotsa · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Oman

Yes, be particularly careful with hand gestures. The use of the middle finger for example in many cultures is quite offensive and is seen as an aggressive response to a situation. In any Islamic country, the use of this gesture towards a muslim will find you dealt with quite severely. If you wouldn't do it in your own country, don't do it anywhere else!

Beachee · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Beachee head

The person concerned did NOT make any gestures.

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, in cases of "he said . . . . she said", whom do you think the authorities (not just in Oman, but likely anywhere) would be more inclined to believe: a foreigner or a "respectable citizen?"
Regards,
John

Beachee · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 22 Location: Beachee head

Sadly, John, you are right - except for good old Blighty, where anyone EXCEPT a British national would be believed.

There is a rather shocking case that happened in one of the colleges, where even with independent witnesses (local and foreign) the foreigner was not supported by their employer and police got involved - on behalf of the local Omani! (surprised?! Rolling Eyes

) The details don't matter as the situation is now over - but only after a very distressing, stressful and expensive time for the teacher concerned.

These sort of extortion occurrences seem to be getting rather more regular in Oman - which is not good for the country or for the reputation of the people of Oman.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

Borealis,

I have to say that I do not think my reaction is at all over the top.

The lady narrowly missed hitting the other cat because he was going far too fast into a roundabout which had confusing signs and road works.

THe man concerned was incoherent with rage and NOTHING, but NOTHING excuses either the language he used and the complely disgusting action of spitting on her car.

Had he behaved like that to an Omani he would have been looking at a minimum jail sentence of three months.

He is one of the expatriates that Oman could very well do without.

Borealis · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 26

[quote="Neil McBeath"]Borealis,

"THe man concerned was incoherent with rage and NOTHING, but NOTHING excuses either the language he used and the complely disgusting action of spitting on her car."

Okay Neil, fair enought comment. This gives a more complete picture than your original report of this incident.

B.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Borealis: to use the quote function, you need to have the code you left at the beginning of the quote and at the end, you leave the existing end code (or type it in), which is [/quote]

Even I can do it!! Cool

VS

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

I wish I could say I was surprised by the OP comments. Similar situations have occured in the UAE and Qatar - to the detriment of the expat.

The only person I knew who "won" reported the incident prior to the national - the police informed the national they were well aware of the situation and wished to discuss it further with him.

There is usually a non-emergency police number in most GCC countries where you can report idiotic drivers without having to file a written police report first. Handy when dealilng with a s s ho les.