Worker accused of stabbing cousin over financial row in Dubai

Dubai: A worker has been accused of attempting to murder his cousin by stabbing him three times after they fought over a Dh11,500 debt.

The 22-year-old Bangladeshi worker, M.S., was said to have got a knife out of a cupboard and stabbed his cousin in the face, hand and chest.

Swift medical intervention helped save the life of the 26-year-old cousin, S.J., who was rushed to hospital after the alleged incident.

“I am not guilty… I did not attempt to kill him,” said M.S. when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Senior Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Ali Rustom asked for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable against the defendant.

According to the charge sheet, the defendant took his cousin by surprise and stabbed him three times with a kitchen knife.

S.J. testified that the incident happened at his home on December 9 in the Naif area.

“My relative [M.S.] asked me to go down to the building’s entrance because he wanted to discuss our financial dispute. I had paid him Dh11,500 to find me a job and issue a labour visa… and he never did. He also failed to repay the money. When I demanded he return my money, he got angry and took out the knife and stabbed me. He ran away while I fell down injured,” said the cousin.

An Emirati policeman testified that the suspect admitted stabbing his cousin due to a financial dispute.

Presiding judge Ali Attiyah Sa’ad said the court will appoint a lawyer to defend M.S. when it reconvenes on June 10.