Clerk who killed guard faces death

Dubai: A clerk who murdered a guardsman and set a showroom on fire after failing to steal Dh458,000 faces capital punishment. This was confirmed by Dubai's highest court on Monday.

The Dubai Court of Cassation issued an irrevocable death sentence which was upheld against 24-year-old Pakistani clerk, Abdul Sabour Khan Mo'men, for premeditatedly killing the 32-year-old Nepalese guardsman, arson and attempted robbery.

According to the Federal Penal Code article 332, a suspect who is incriminated of pre-planning and premeditatedly killing a person and associates that with another crime such as theft or using poisonous or explosive materials, faces death penalty.

Dubai Public Prosecution's Criminal Rulings Execution Section sends the accused and the file case to Dubai Central Prison. Capital punishment is carried out following the Ruler's approval and signature.

The Dubai Court of Appeal earlier upheld the death penalty against the accused after he was found guilty of premeditated murder, arson and attempted robbery.

The Appeal's Court Presiding Judge Eisa Al Sharif and Judges Mahmoud Fahmi and Rashid Al Sumairi unanimously agreed to confirm the primary verdict in March.

Records said the accused played games on his mobile phone as he lay waiting for the Nepalese security guard, P.B., under a counter at the car showroom. When the 32-year-old showed up 90 minutes later, he was brutally stabbed.

"No doubt the initial ruling was accurate and the murder was pre-planned, intentional and associated with attempted robbery. The panel didn't find any factor to treat the accused with leniency. " Judge Al Sharif told Gulf News earlier.

Mo'men and the Public Prosecution appealed the ruling before the Cassation Court which confirmed the capital punishment.

The accused pleaded not guilty before the Appeal Court.

Last January, the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted Mo'men and sentenced him to capital punishment which marked the first of its kind since 2005.