Dubai: Prosecutors are seeking death sentence against a Jordanian suspect, who is accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering an eight-year-old boy last month in Dubai, Attorney General Essam Eisa Al Humaidan said on Wednesday.
The Jordanian suspect, Nidal Eisa Abdullah, who kidnapped Obaida Sedqi from Sharjah, sexually assaulted and then killed him while he was under the influence of liquor has been referred to the Dubai Court of First Instance, Al Humaidan was quoted as saying in a media statement on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Dubai Public Prosecution records, Abdullah faces primary charges of drinking liquor, driving a vehicle under the influence of liquor, kidnap, having sex with a male and premeditated murder.
The media statement, in which the suspect was not named, quoted Al Humaidan as saying: “We will be asking the Dubai Court of First Instance to hold a swift trial since this crime shook and affected the public opinion. We will ask for the implementation of the toughest punishment applicable as per the UAE’s Penal Code. Prosecutors concluded the investigations in nearly two weeks after hearing statements of Obaida’s father and uncle, witnesses and law enforcement officers. Following his arrest, the suspect was filmed enacting the crime he committed. He also pleaded guilty.”
Forensic examiners’ reports, evidence and witnesses’ statements are more than enough to indict the suspect, the Attorney General said.
“Since Dubai Police apprehended the suspect [Abdullah] and referred him to the Public Prosecution, he has admitted to the crime,” Prosecutor General Yousuf Foulaz, Head of Deira Prosecution, said earlier.
Foulaz lead a team of prosecutors, including Chief Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Hosani and Senior Prosecutor Ahmad Ebrahim, who examined the Al Warqa’a area where Obaida’s body was found.
The police said the victim was kidnapped from outside his father’s automobile workshop in Sharjah’s industrial area on May 20.
The case was referred to the Public Prosecution on May 23 and investigations concluded on June 15, the date when the case was referred to the court.
Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police Chief, said the body was found near Academic City Road, which falls under Al Rashidiya police station’s jurisdiction.
“The forensic doctor found signs of sexual assault. There were also marks on his body that showed that he tried to resist his attacker,” he said.
