Dubai: A male suspect has admitted to the preliminary charges of kidnapping an eight-year-old boy in his car, trying to rape him and then killing him, prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Essam Eisa Al Humaidan, Dubai’s Attorney-General, has ordered that the Jordanian suspect, Nidal Eisa Abdullah, be placed under provisional detention pending further investigations by prosecutors.
“Since Dubai Police apprehended the suspect [Abdullah] and referred him to the Dubai Public Prosecution, he has admitted to the crime. Law enforcement officers who apprehended the suspect and prosecution witnesses will be heard as part of our ongoing investigations,” said Prosecutor General Yousuf Foulaz, Head of Deira Prosecution.
Foulaz presided over a team of prosecutors, including Chief Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Hosani and Senior Prosecutor Ahmad Ebrahim, who examined the Al Warqa’a area where the body of the Jordanian boy, Obaida Sedqi, was found.
“We examined the boy’s body and permitted the forensic examiner to carry out an autopsy. We are waiting for the examiner’s reports regarding the exact cause of the death. We have also instructed Dubai Police’s forensic experts provide us with their findings as part of the investigation,” Foulaz was quoted as saying in a media statement on Tuesday.
The police said the victim was kidnapped from outside his father’s vehicle workshop in Sharjah’s industrial area on May 20.
Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police Chief, said the body was found near Academic City Road, which falls under Al Rashidiya police station’s jurisdiction.
“The forensic doctor found signs that the suspect [Abdullah] attempted to sexually assault the boy and strangled him. There were also marks on his body that showed that he tried to resist his attacker,” he said.
A senior prosecution source told Gulf News that Abdullah is facing primary charges of kidnap, attempted rape, assault, premeditated murder and consuming alcohol.
“The charges are not final yet. The final list of accusations will be based on further investigations and on future evidence or findings that might surface later … however nothing is final yet,” said the source.
According to Tuesday’s statement, the results of the investigation will be announced later. Abdullah will be tried under the articles of the Penal Law.
