Dubai warden case might be held in camera

Dubai: The lawyers of 25 prison wardens who are being tried for reportedly abusing their authority and beating inmates, have asked the court to listen to prosecution witnesses behind closed doors.

The five lawyers on Sunday asked Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir at the Dubai Court of First Instance to listen to prosecution witnesses in camera. The lawyers also presented their powers of attorney to the court.

The suspects, including the former director of a Dubai detention centre, 3 lieutenants and 21 prison wardens, pleaded not guilty and denied abusing their authority and beating inmates. The Public Prosecution said one inmate sustained a ten per cent permanent disability.

The ex-director's lawyer, Salim al Sha'ali of Al Sha'ali and Co Advocates and Legal Consultants, told Gulf News on Sunday they asked the court to sit in camera for security reasons because information regarding prison surveillance would be released.

The Public Prosecution accused five of the suspects with abusing the authority granted to them as wardens.

They allegedly beat an Armenian inmate so badly that he was left with a permanent disability to his spinal cord.

The suspects, excluding the former director, were all charged with injuring and hurting inmates by using excessive force against them. The former director and one of the lieutenants were charged with inciting the others to commit violent and abusive acts.

Al Sha'ali asked the judge to question the leading prosecution witness, a Dubai police major, next week. The major was assigned by the supreme command to investigate the allegations.