Man choked to death in Dubai, four charged

Four men, including two runaways, have been charged for smothering a man to death in Dubai.
The four Indians allegedly killed a Pakistani man after tying and gagging him up with a duct tape and stole Dh75,000 from him.
Two of them (both vendors, aged 22) were present in the Court of First Instance and denied charges of murder and theft.
As per court records, the incident took place in Naif on April 26.
A police lieutenant said the body of the victim was found lying on his back in his flat. He was wearing the Pakistani traditional clothes.
"He was tied up from head to toe with a duct tape. He was also gagged and a piece of clothes was left in his mouth. Injury marks and blood was also spotted on him.
"The closet was in a mess and the drawers and a safe were found open. Fingerprints and evidence were lifted from the scene. We realised then the victim was killed and robbed."
The police found that four suspects were involved and two of them, believed to have masterminded the attack, had left to India shortly after the incident.
When apprehended, the third accused admitted they planned to target the victim.
They went to his place in Naif carrying the crime tools including pepper spray.
While one of them talked to the victim to distract him, the others pepper sprayed his eye and tied him up.
They gagged him to stop him from screaming for help. After robbing Dh75,000 from the safe, they left the place.
But they made sure not to leave the flat before closing the windows and turning the TV volume loud.
They locked the flat's door and went to the house of one of the runaways where they split the money.
The police arrested another accomplice and he confessed to the crime.
The court adjourned the hearing to August 30.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai