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Footballer’s death penalty commuted in murder case

Emirati football player Fayez Juma has been sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to fast for two consecutive months.

Emirati football player Fayez Juma, who was sentenced to death, has been pardoned by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi. He has been sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to fast for two consecutive months, as per Shariah law.

Fayez’s lawyer Salem Obaid Sahooh told Khaleej Times that his client has already completed three years in jail and fasted for two months. “The ruling will be sent to The Sharjah Central Public Prosecution and then to the jail, following which he will be released.”

The victim’s family pardoned the football player in an official statement in front of the head of the Sharjah Shariah Court, after which it was referred to the Abu Dhabi Federal Supreme Court.

In June, 2011, the Abu Dhabi Supreme Court overturned a Sharjah Appeal Court acquittal and sentenced Fayez to death for murdering his neighbour in a case dating back to 2008. After the ruling, Sahooh filed a review petition, following which the victim’s family pardoned him “for the sake of God”. They did not receive any blood-money.

According to police reports, three men, including Fayez, overpowered Jasem Yousif, during a fight at a parking lot in Sharjah’s Riffa area on May 16, 2008. He was later stabbed to death.

He was first convicted by the Sharjah Court of First Instance on March 25, 2009, and was sentenced to death along with six other defendants, including his brother.

On October 26, 2009, the Sharjah Court of Appeal acquitted him and another player, Mohammed Najeeb, but upheld the death sentence against his brother Musa Juma and Mohammed Bilal — both former players.

Following his acquittal, Fayez re-joined Sharjah FC’s training sessions, but the family of the deceased filed an appeal and he was rearrested on May 17, 2010. Meanwhile, the player’s defence lawyer contested his arrest.

On October 28 last year, the Sharjah Court of Appeal reduced his death sentence to a year in jail and fined him Dh10,000.

news@khaleejtimes.com