Dubai: A man who kidnapped an eight-year-old boy on May 20 from his father’s garage in Sharjah and then raped and killed him in Al Mamzar will be executed.
On Monday morning, the Dubai Court of First Instance handed out a unanimous decision that 49-year-old Jordanian convict, Nidal Eisa Abdullah, will be executed.
When he first appeared in court, the convict admitted that he raped and murdered the Jordanian boy, Obaida Sedqi, but denied kidnapping the victim, who he said had willingly sat with him in the car.
On August 8, the defendant told the court: “I have a medical file record at Rashid Hospital’s mental ward. I was not conscious or awake and do not remember what happened that day [day of the incident May 20]. I swear to God I do not remember a thing.”
Pronouncing Monday’s ruling in a fully-packed courtroom, presiding judge Urfan Omar said: “The court has unanimously agreed to sentence defendant Nidal Eisa Abdullah to death. The convict will also have to pay Dh21,000 in temporary compensation to the blood parents (parents of Obaida)."
At 9:16 am sharp, after the attendees heard the ruling and presiding judge Omar called the hearing to an end, 10s of Obaida's parents and relatives started chanting in delight "God is great ... God is great".
The mother was spotted dashing in tears of sorrow and comfort meanwhile the father hugged all those around him.
"May you rot in hell and God punish you," a relative was heard saying while scores of people started evacuating courtroom three.
The ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
However, as per the Criminal Procedures Law, death sentences are automatically appealed by prosecutors and convicts.
Abdullah’s court-appointed lawyer, Omran Darwish, defended earlier: “This is an awful, ugly and atrocious crime and it is unacceptable. The public and the victim’s parents are in pain. Honestly, the defendant admitted in front of me that he did not have any intention to commit what he had been accused of doing. Obaida has gone to the other world … he is at peace away from life.”
The lawyer asked the court to modify the accusation of intentional killing to beating which led to death.
“Abdullah did not intend to kill Obaida. He admitted that he has been suffering from mental issues. His fear of being shamed for what had happened pushed him to do what he did [strangle the victim]. As per the forensic examiner’s statement in court, Obaida’s neck was so tenuous and fragile … and which led to his death.”
Darwish asked the court to observe Abdullah’s confession before the police and prosecutors “cautiously and thoroughly”.
He also asked the court to refer Abdulla to a committee of psychological experts to examine his sanity and study his mental capabilities.
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Hosani who presented Dubai Public Prosecution’s verbal argument before presiding judge Urfan Omar said: “Following this horrendous crime, our children, parents and all member of the society were petrified. We were heart-broken due to what had happened to the angel ‘Obaida’. The suspect himself is a father … where were his fatherly feelings when he committed such an atrocious act? The suspect is a monster who does not deserve to live among us … he doesn’t deserve to live in this society. He deserves to be sentenced to death.”
Obaida’s soul won’t rest in peace and will only rest in peace after the kidnapper, rapist and killer is sentenced to death, according to Dr Al Hosani, because “that’s the punishment he deserves”.
The last time the father saw Obaida alive was in Abdullah’s car at 5pm shortly before the latter had decided to kidnap and rape the eight-year-old, added the chief prosecutor.
Records said Abdullah lured the boy to his car by offering to buy him a scooter and then he drove to Al Mamzar area in Dubai.
There, he moved the 8-year-old to the back seat and had forced sex with him. He also assaulted the boy before he strangled him with a red ghutra when the victim tried to defend himself.
Prosecutors accused the defendant of five crimes — premeditated murder, kidnap, rape of a minor, drinking and driving a vehicle under the influence of liquor.
Prosecutors said the defendant used deceptive methods and lured the boy into his car from his father’s shop in Sharjah.
The lawyer of the victim’s family, advocate Obaid Al Mazmi produced in court a civil lawsuit in which he asked for the implementation of the sternest punishment (capital sentence) against the accused.
In his written lawsuit, Al Mazmi mentioned that Obaida’s parents are seeking Dh21,000 in civil temporary compensation against their moral and emotional damages.
Records said the boy’s father reported the police that his son was kidnapped from Sharjah before a cleaner found the boy’s body under a tree in Al Warqaa area near Academic City Road.
Timeline: Obaida murder case
May 20, 2016
An eight-year-old Jordanian boy Obaida Sedqi is reported missing from his home in Sharjah.
May 22, 2016
Dubai Police find the body of Obaida under a tree in Al Warqa area in Dubai. A 49-year-old Jordanian suspect Nidal Eisa Abdullah, a customer of the boy's father, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to sexually assault the boy and strangling him. Police said the suspect had suggested helping locate the boy when Obaida's parents were searching desperately for the boy.
May 23, 2016
Obaida is buried in Sharjah. His family seeks death penalty for the suspect.
May 24, 2016
The suspect Nidal Eisa Abdullah admits to the preliminary charges of kidnapping an eight-year-old boy in his car, trying to rape him and then killing him.
May 25, 2016
Dubai Police appoints a police officer to provide legal and social help to the family of Obaida. The officer will help the family with the procedures, provide whatever kind of legal, psychological and social support they need during the upcoming period and through all stages of the case. A delegation of top Dubai police officers pay a visit to the family's home in Sharjah.
May 29, 2016
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has offered condolences to the family and relatives of Obaida during a visit to the mourning tent in Sharjah. Dr Shaikh Sultan said he stands by the family and said the support of the entire society is with Obaida's family.
June 1, 2016
The Sharjah Consultative Council has assigned Obaid Al Mazimi as the lawyer for Obaida’s family in the murder case.
June 15, 2016
Prosecutors are seeking death sentence against the Jordanian suspect, Attorney General Essam Eisa Al Humaidan said.
June 20, 2016
Jordanian suspect Nidal Eisa Abdullah pleads guilty and admits that he raped and strangled an eight-year-old boy in the back seat of his car.
June 27, 2016
A judge orders that Jordanian suspected of raping and killing an eight-year-old boy be forced to attend his trial after he refused to appear court hearing.
July 11, 2016
A new lawyer Omran Darwish accept a court's appointment to defend a man who is accused of kidnapping, raping and killing a boy.
August 1, 2016
The chief prosecutor in the Obaida case describe the man accused of kidnapping, raping and killing the eight-year-old boy as "a monster".
August 8, 2016
Jordanian suspect Nidal Eisa Abdullah said in the court that he tried to kill himself and he was not conscious or awake and do not remember what happened that day [day of the incident May 20].
August 15, 2016
The Dubai Court of First instance hands out unanimous decision on execution of Nidal Eisa Abdullah who kidnapped, raped and murdered Jordanian boy Obaida.
Compiled by Gulf News Archives
