Dubai: Five cleaners have been jailed for three years each for fatally assaulting a co-worker.
In August, the five Bangladeshi accused, aged between 23 and 30, allegedly ganged up against the Indian co-worker in a labour accommodation in Al Quoz and repeatedly kicked him, and banged his head against a wall.
The victim had confronted one of the five accused over him slapping his colleague.
Medical reports confirmed that the victim sustained critical injuries in the upper part of his body and bled to death.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the defendants of assaulting the deceased and causing his death although they pleaded not guilty.
Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said the five accused will be deported after serving their jail terms.
The victim’s colleague, a 45-year-old Indian cleaner, testified that he had informed the victim that one of the accused had slapped him.
“We were at the labour accommodation at 8.30pm when one of the defendants came to my room and slapped me for having reported him to the supervisor for being lazy at work. When I returned to my room, I told the victim what happened and he went to confront the man who slapped me. The defendants ganged up against him and beat him,” he said.
Four other eyewitnesses confirmed his statement.
Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
