UAE | Crime
Ex-inmate argues with Dubai judge in warden case
The judge warned the 28-year-old Egyptian that his imprisonment would be extended if he refused to testify before the Dubai Court of First Instance's bench of three judges.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:27 May 5, 2008
Dubai: A frightened former inmate from Egypt and a judge had an argument in court on Sunday because the former inmate was afraid he would not be sent back to Egypt if he had to testify now.
The Egyptian completed his sentence last week and will be deported.
The judge warned the 28-year-old Egyptian that his imprisonment would be extended if he refused to testify before the Dubai Court of First Instance's bench of three judges.
The argument between the frightened inmate, S.J., and Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir lasted about five minutes.
S.J., who is an essential prosecution witness in the case of 25 prison wardens being tried for abusing their authority and beating inmates, persistently told Presiding Judge Mounir: "I repeat the statement I made before the Public Prosecution. I don't want to testify because I just completed my punishment and I want to get deported. I am afraid if I testify I won't get deported."
"You have to testify. The court and the Public Prosecution are different things. I will extend your detention if you keep on refusing," warned the judge.
Eventually S.J. agreed, and testified: "I was hit by three suspects. I was forced to lie on my stomach while they beat me."
When asked by the judge to identify who beat him from among the 25 wardens who were present at courtroom four, he pointed at two of the defendants.
Defence lawyers, including Khalifa Al Salman, Ali Mosabah, Amal Bakri, Kawthar Marwan, Samir Jaafar and Nabih Badr, also questioned S.J. during the 9am hearing.
The Public Prosecution charged some of the accused with abusing their power and beating 41-year-old Armenian inmate, S.K., who was later deported. He sustained a ten per cent permanent disability to his spinal cord.
Other building
"I didn't see anyone beat S.K. because he was detained in another building. Some inmates alleged that S.K. was beaten, while others claimed he fell down the stairs," said the Egyptian witness.
The accused, excluding the former director of the prison, were all charged with injuring 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.
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