Appeals court upholds 25-year term for pair convicted of murder

Dubai: A court has upheld life sentences handed down to two men who premeditatedly ran down a businessman and killed him before stealing Dh300,000 and escaping.

The Dubai Appeals Court on Tuesday upheld the primary judgment of 25 years in jail after the jury found the duo, 28-year-old M.A. (who doesn't carry identification documents) and his 29-year-old Iranian accomplice, A.A., guilty of the premeditated murder of Indian businessman, S.M.

Pronouncing Tuesday's verdict, Presiding Judge Mustafa Al Shennawi said the two will be deported after serving their sentences.

Prosecutors charged them with premeditatedly mowing down the businessman and stealing his Dh300,000 from him — just minutes after he had withdrawn the cash from a bank in Ras Al Khor.

According to the charge sheet, M.A. and A.A. plotted to pursue any client who walked out of a bank with a huge amount of cash so that they could rob him.

Records said the victim pulled over and got out of his vehicle to see what had happened to his car after M.A. rammed it.

M.A. then ran over him while A.A. jumped into the car — where the money had been placed — before fleeing the scene.

Tuesday's judgment is still subject to appeal within 30 days.