Bootleggers on trial for murders and sexual abuse

Dubai: A group of bootleggers is on trial in Dubai for murder and sexual abuse in three separate incidents.

According to court records, the three victims in the first two cases were severely beaten with "hard and sharp objects".

A group of 13 Indians, who court papers stated were alcohol smugglers from Punjab, have been accused of murdering the three in two separate incidents. The group has been detained at Dubai Central Jail for 20 months since their arrest.

According to court documents, in one of the two cases, 13 Indians are to be tried by the Dubai Court of First Instance for murdering one man in the Jebel Ali area.

The accused, who court papers said used to sell alcohol illegally to workers in various labour accommodations in Dubai, are Sikhs and Muslims.

They allegedly murdered the man who was working with a competing gang.

Court papers also showed that in the second case, 10 Indians — who were also accused in the first case — plus one Pakistani, have been accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing two members of a competing gang.

Five of the men were also charged with sexual assault, and 10 with consuming alcohol. The public prosecutor said the men were arrested in 2009, and that the alleged crime took place in 2007.

The accused also face murder charges after being accused of burying their victims alive.

Judicial sources said the defendants could face the death penalty if convicted.

In the third case, 17 Indians from Punjab are on death row in Sharjah for murdering a Pakistani man and injuring another two Pakistanis and one Indian, also during a brawl about liquor.

The 17 Indians were sentenced to death by the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance. They have appealed the death sentence handed to them by the court. The appeal is due to be heard September 1.

According to court documents the workers were convicted of killing the Pakistani in a fight at a labour accommodation in the Al Saja'a area of Sharjah last year.

Police said the men were part of a gang that sold liquor illegally in different areas of the country.

The accused were arrested last year for killing the Pakistani man.

They were charged with smashing his skull with metal bars. Police said the man died on the spot.

The case was postponed to enable the court to find a translator who spoke the language of the accused.