Photo used for illustrative purpose.

Hissa Saif, Staff Reporter

An Emirati family is facing harsh living conditions and distressing circumstances after the father and family breadwinner was imprisoned for six months pending a financial case. He was obligated to pay a fine of Dhs25,000 for issuing a dud cheque. This was revealed by his wife, Sumaia Ali, an Emirati woman, 44, and mother of 3 children.

Her husband is currently in prison because he issued a dud cheque, for which a fine of Dhs25,000 was incurred, she said. She was unable to pay the fine; her husband had also previous debts and financial issues, which compounded the problem.

She has called on philanthropists and charitable organisations to help by settling the outstanding amount as soon as possible before he loses his job.

“I lost my job during the COVID-19 crisis. I used to work in the canteen of a public school for Dhs3,000 to support my family and my husband and meet as much the needs of my children as possible. But my husband went to prison half a year ago on account of financial issues and his inability to pay a fine of Dhs25,000 over a dud cheque. This exacerbated our suffering and turned the family's life into a bitter one,” said Sumaia, who lived with her family in a Ras Al Khaimah area.

“I have three children to support alone and I am reluctant to ask people for help. My job and my small salary used to meet many of my living needs but I lost it currently and I have no breadwinner to help me. I am afraid that my husband will lose his job because of the long time he has to spend in prison. I am actually incapable of paying my husband’s fine for him to be set free, return to work and shoulder his responsibilities towards his family,” she added.