Bootleggers arrested after assaulting man in Dubai over heated argument

Dubai: Two Nepali bootleggers have been accused of assaulting their countryman because he had refused to hide their stash of bottles.

The Dubai Court of First Instance heard on Tuesday that the 39-year-old Nepali cleaner claimed that he was near the Al Shindagha area in May this year when the 35-year-old defendant approached him with a bag, asking him to keep it with him.

“I didn’t know what was inside the bag. So I opened it and saw bottles in it. I refused to keep the bag and returned it to him. But he insisted that I keep the bag with me, claiming that police were on the lookout to arrest him for bootlegging,” said the Nepali victim on record.

The victim said he kept refusing to keep the bag and even threatened to call the police.

Then the second defendant and a group of four men arrived and attacked the victim. “They assaulted me, causing severe injuries to my nose and jaw, and escaped,” the victim said.

Dubai Police arrested the Nepali defendant and his 29-year-old compatriot.

Medical reports revealed that the victim had suffered 15 per cent permanent disability to his jaw and had difficulties chewing.

Dubai Public Prosecution has charged the defendants with physically assaulting the victim and causing 15 per cent permanent disability.

The next hearing will be on August 30.