Workers to appeal death sentence

Sharjah: Workers on death row in Sharjah are to appeal the death sentence handed to them by a court next week, Gulf News has learnt.

An official from the Indian consulate told Gulf News yesterday the Indian consulate will hire a lawyer to defend the accused who were sentenced to death by the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance for killing a Pakistani man.

"We were not informed about the Indians who were sentenced to death by a court earlier this week," said the official.

"We will follow up their case and hire a lawyer to defend them. They were sentenced by the court without having a lawyer," the official said.

Liquor brawl

Earlier this week the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance sentenced the 17 Indian labourers to death for killing a Pakistani man over a brawl about liquor.

According to court documents the workers were found guilty of killing the Pakistani in a fight that occurred at labour accommodation in the Al Sajja area of Sharjah last year. Police said the men were part of a gang that sold liquor illegally in different areas of the country.

"There are different groups who sell alcohol to labourers in different areas. It seems they compete with each other on the areas they are selling alcohol and about the prices," police said.

The accused were arrested by police last year for killing the Pakistani man. They were charged with beating his head with metal bars until his skull broke. Police said the man died on the spot. They were also charged with severely injuring another three Pakistani men.

An Indian consulate official said that many workers are unemployed here and not paid salaries on time so they conduct illegal business.