Dubai: A worker admitted in court Thursday that he bit and then cut a chunk from his roommate's ear after they quarrelled over watching television.
Prosecutors had accused the 28-year-old Sri Lankan worker of biting the ear of his 45-year-old compatriot roommate and then cutting a chunk of it; leaving him with a permanent disability.
The worker had also been charged with consuming alcohol.
"I am guilty. I did bite his ear but later we reconciled and I apologised to him. I am also guilty of taking liquor," the accused, S.W., told the Dubai Court of First Instance.
When Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad read S.W.'s charge to him, the accused pleaded guilty and presented a written waiver which he obtained from the victim, W.H.
According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors said the accused by his actions had caused a three per cent permanent disability in the victim's right ear.
"I am seeking clemency and leniency your honour," the accused [who is on current bail for another matter] told Presiding Judge Abdul Jawad in courtroom four on Thursday.
Prosecutors said that the victim, who did not attend yesterday's hearing, said: "We had previous disputes…on the night of the incident, we were watching television.
"Then we had a fight because we could not decide on who should switch off the television. We also quarrelled over the accommodation's rent. Suddenly, S.W. pushed me down on the floor and bit my right ear."
The Dubai police forensic department confirmed that the victim was permanently disabled in his ear.
The judge will deliver a verdict on June 24.
