DUBAI: A court in Dubai has reduced the jail sentence of the Omani bus driver who was charged guilty of causing wrongful death of 17 passengers in 2019.

In a verdict issued on Thursday, the Dubai Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to one year in jail, however, the driver must pay Dh3.4 million in blood money to the families of the victim in addition to Dh50,000 fine.

The incident happened in June 2019, when the Mwasalat bus driver rammed the vehicle into a height barrier in Dubai that killed 17 people and injuring 13 others. According to investigations by Dubai Police revealed that the 55-year-old driver exceeded the speed limit by more than double. The Dubai Traffic Court in 2019 sentenced the driver to 7-year imprisonment and was ordered to deport the driver in addition to paying a Dh50,000 fine. The appeal court has now cancelled the deportation order but he has to pay the Dh50,000 fine.

According to reports, 12 Indians, two Pakistanis, an Irish, Omani and Filipino citizens were killed in the accident.