Dubai: Five bootleggers have been accused of ganging up on two blacksmiths and bludgeoning them with sticks, causing the death of one of them.
The five Indian suspects were said to be vending liquor illegally in a sandy area in Al Qouz at night when the two Egyptian blacksmiths walked up to them in December.
The Indians, aged between 25 and 28, took out several sticks, according to records, and attacked the blacksmiths. The two Egyptians tried to run away but the assailants chased them and rained blows on them with the sticks until one of them dropped down to the ground after losing consciousness.
The other blacksmith, aged 47, managed to get away from his attackers and fled to the labour accommodation where he stays, records said, adding that he didn’t once look back as he was afraid of meeting the same fate as his countryman. Then he gathered his co-workers and told them what had happened to them.
The 47-year-old and his coworkers went to check on their friend and, when they reached the sandy spot, they saw police cars and pedestrians gathered around and an ambulance.
Medical reports confirmed that the other blacksmith succumbed to his injuries and attempts to revive him did not succeed.
Primary police interrogations led to the arrest of the five Indian bootleggers one after the other.
Prosecutors accused the suspects of beating the 47-year-old and causing him injuries in his back and head. They were also charged them with beating the other Egyptian with sticks and causing his death albeit unintentionally.
Jail wardens did not bring the suspects from their detention centres to produce them before the Dubai Court of First Instance where they were scheduled to enter their pleas on Wednesday.
The injured Egyptian testified before prosecutors that the incident took place shortly after he and his countryman went out for a walk at night. “A group of men [the suspects] came out of a dark alley and they set upon us. They beat us with the sticks… my friend fell down on the ground and could not save himself. They also beat me brutally on the back of my head but I managed to break away quickly. I did not even dare to look behind me and ran away at full speed without knowing my friend’s fate. I suffered several bruises and injuries… later I came to know that my countryman had died,” he claimed.
A police lieutenant told prosecutors that primary interrogations led to the arrest of the five suspects. “During questioning, the suspects claimed that the blacksmiths and two others had been posing as policemen and taking away the proceeds from their sale of liquor. Then they ganged up against them and assaulted them to stop them from taking the money they used to make from selling alcohol.”
The trial will continue.
