DUBAI, Aug 30 (The National): Nine men face the firing squad after being charged with stabbing an Indian man to death in a brothel.
The men, all Vietnamese and described as “brothel guards” in prosecution records, are said to have assaulted a drunk customer who refused to leave the brothel in the China block of International City.
The men, who were also charged with assaulting a second man and stabbing him, did not enter a plea at the Dubai Criminal Court yesterday, as they are waiting for a Vietnamese translator.
Records show that three Indian men, who are all drivers, went to the brothel on November 20 last year after drinking heavily to have sex with Chinese prostitutes in International City.
One of the men, the deceased, got into an argument with a prostitute and a guard was called in, records show. The man was asked to leave by a guard but his friends intervened and wanted the Dh50 they paid to be returned.
The guard then made a phone call, according to testimony from the victims, and eight other people came to the flat wielding cleavers and knives.
The men were attacked by the defendants and sustained cuts and bruises before two of them escaped, leaving the third trapped inside the studio apartment.
“We tried to explain to them in sign language, Urdu and English that we did not want trouble,” said one of the Indian men to prosecutors.
“One of them jumped at me with a cleaver and was aiming for my head. He cut my palm while another hit my elbow. I bled profusely and passed out after being pulled out of the flat,” said the other man.
Prosecution records show that all nine defendants stabbed the naked victim repeatedly. Prosecutors could not identify who struck the deadly blow, therefore all the defendants were charged with murder.
Forensic evidence shows the cause of death was the severance of his artery due to stabs and cuts to his legs.
The owner of the flat where the brothel was run is being investigated but he has not been apprehended, according to prosecution records.
The Presiding Judge El Saeed Bargouth, of the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, adjourned the case so that a Vietnamese translator could be appointed. A new date has not been set.