Lorry Driver Fined Rs 100,000 Over Fatal Reversing Accident

A 52-year-old lorry driver has been ordered to pay a Rs 100,000 fine following a tragic accident at Riche-Terre that claimed the life of a security guard. On 12 December 2025, the Intermediate Court found Raj Kamal Dawooky guilty of involuntary homicide by imprudence. In addition to the financial penalty, Magistrate Prithiviraj Balluck ordered a ten-month suspension of the defendant’s driving licence.

The Fatal Incident

The conviction stems from an incident on 4 March 2020 at the Princess Tuna Fishing Company Ltd. Mr Dawooky, a resident of Terre-Rouge, had arrived at the premises to empty bins.

While reversing his vehicle to enter the compound, the rear of the lorry struck an entrance wall.

The impact caused the structure to collapse onto 60-year-old Sossil Ramduth, who was stationed behind the wall performing her duties as a security guard for a private firm.

Judicial Findings

Despite Mr Dawooky pleading not guilty, the court heard evidence regarding the severity of the incident:

• Cause of Death: A post-mortem examination confirmed Ms Ramduth died from “shock due to multiple injuries” after being extracted from the rubble.
• Judicial Reasoning: Magistrate Balluck noted that the accident resulted from a “judgment error” during the reversing manoeuvre.
• Sentencing: While acknowledging the gravity of a death occurring during the exercise of one’s duties, the Magistrate ruled that a prison sentence was not justified in this instance.

The court’s decision concludes a legal process following the 2020 tragedy, emphasizing the responsibility of drivers during heavy vehicle manoeuvres.

Source: Defi Media