Drunk man stabs friend over visa issue

Dubai: A visitor has been accused of getting drunk and stabbing his friend with a knife over a visa issue.

The 34-year-old Pakistani visitor was said to have asked his 29-year-old countryman friend, who lives and works in Dubai, to arrange a UAE labour residency for him in August.

When the visitor reached Dubai he realised that he had been issued a visit visa, according to records, and not the residency as agreed earlier with his 29-year-old friend.

The two men were drinking alcohol together when the 29-year-old asked the 34-year-old to pay him Dh1,300, the remaining amount of Dh5,300 he agreed to pay him for arranging the visa for him. On this the two indulged in a heated argument after which the 34-year-old stabbed his friend in belly with a knife three times.

Swift medical intervention helped save the life of the victim, who suffered severe knife wounds in his intestines.

Prosecutors charged the 34-year-old suspect of assaulting his countryman with a knife.

The duo were charged with consuming alcohol.

According to the accusation sheet, prosecutors said the suspect caused a 10 per cent permanent disability to the victim.

The 34-year-old pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

The 29-year-old was not present in courtroom.

When asked by presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi if he had consumed liquor, the 34-year-old suspect pleaded guilty.

The 29-year-old victim told prosecutors that he knew the suspect from Pakistan.

“He contacted me and gave me Dh4,000 to arrange a UAE residency for him. I gave the money to another person to process the residency but the latter managed to get him [suspect] a visit visa. Once the suspect arrived in Dubai, I asked him to pay me the remaining balance [Dh1,300] … but he couldn’t. On the day of the incident, I phoned the suspect and went to meet him at his residence in Satwa. We had a heated argument that developed into a fight … he stabbed me. I was too drunk to remember how many times he stabbed me,” he told prosecutors.

The next hearing will be held on July 2.