Man gets life in prison for killing his boss in Dubai

Dubai: Dubai’s highest court confirmed on Monday a life sentence against a worker who pounded his boss’ head with a hammer eight times and stabbed him 30 times over Dh45,000 in unpaid salaries.

The Dubai Cassation Court dismissed the appeal lodged by the 35-year-old Indian convict, Nawas Mohammad, who sought to prove his innocence or have his life sentence reduced.

Prosecutors said Mohammad preplanned the murder of his compatriot boss, S.R., and battered his head with a hammer and stabbed him with a kitchen knife.

Presiding judge Mohammad Nabeel Riyadh rejected Mohammad’s appeal and confirmed the life sentence, which is now irrevocable.

The case went through five stages in court before the final judgement was handed out in courtroom 22 on Monday.

Chief Prosecutor Khalid Al Zarouni, Head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, referred N.K. to court and asked for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable. Mohammad pleaded not guilty and denied the accusations.

According to the charge sheet, the convict prepared the hammer and the knife for the purpose of killing S.R. as he had a financial dispute with him.

The killer visited S.R. in his flat in Karama.

Ensuring that S.R. was alone at home, Mohammad pounded the victim with the hammer. When the latter fell down, the accused pinned him down and battered him again. Then he stabbed him 30 times in different parts of his body.

In April 2012, the Court of First Instance handed Mohammad capital punishment, which was later commuted to a life sentence by the Appeal Court.

Prosecutors appealed the life sentence and asked the Cassation Court to upgrade the life sentence to capital punishment. Meanwhile Mohammad asked for a reduced sentence.

At a later stage, the Cassation Court overruled the life sentence and referred the case back to the Appeal Court, that sentenced Mohammad for life for a second time.

However, the highest court upheld the appellate judgement [life sentence] on Monday.

An Emirati policeman said the defendant confessed during questioning that he killed his boss because he was owed Dh45,000 in unpaid salaries.

“The accused said S.R. constantly refused to pay his pending salaries despite continually asking him to do so.”

Dubai Police’s forensic examiner testified that the victim’s head was battered with the hammer. He also had two fatal knife stab wounds in his neck and heart.

An Indian executive testified: “When I interviewed him to know why he had resigned, he said he was very upset with S.R. because he did not improve his work conditions. Mohammad... threatened that he would not leave the victim alone even in his home country India. I warned S.R. to be careful but he did not take me seriously.”

Mohammad was arrested three days after the crime.