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UAE Supreme Court upholds jail term for 16 men

Abu Dhabi - They were accused of premeditated murder and injuring five in a brawl.

The Federal Supreme Court once again upheld the jail term for sixteen workers, convicted of murdering a man and injuring four others in a brawl.
The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi had upheld earlier rulings by lower courts that sentenced the Asian men to three to seven years in jail. They were found guilty of premeditated murder of an Asian man and attempting to kill four other persons - using sticks and knives.
The 16 men had appealed their sentences but the Federal Supreme Court upheld it.
The men were also ordered to pay Dh200,000 blood money to the family of the dead victim.
According to official documents, the two groups of workers engaged in a heated argument that resulted into a brawl near their accommodations in a northern emirate.
The group comprising the sixteen defendants attacked the second group with sticks and knives and seriously injured five men.
The men were rushed to the hospital where one of them later died, while other victims who sustained live threatening injuries were treated.
During the fight, the men also destroyed an electronics shop - belonging to one of the victims.
All sixteen accused were arrested by the police after investigations.
Prosecutors had charged them with premeditated murder of an Asian worker and attempting to kill four others.
Both the first instance and appeal courts found the men guilty on all charges.
The main defendant in the case who stabbed the dead man with a knife was sentenced to seven years in jail while the rest of the men were each given three years in jail after the victim's family pardoned them in return for blood money.
The men however challenged the ruling to UAE's top court, which has upheld earlier rulings.
The workers will be deported after serving their jail sentences.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com