Witnesses fail to show up for Reem ghost trial

Abu Dhabi - The ‘Reem Island ghost’ case has been adjourned to April 27 after witnesses failed to show up in court to give evidence on Tuesday. Judge Falah Al Hajeri ordered the witnesses to show up for the next hearing, warning that they would be fined Dh1,000 if they fail to do so.

The Emirati woman, Alaa Bader Abdullah Al Hashemi, 29, is accused of stabbing 37-year-old American schoolteacher Ibolya Ryan in a toilet in Boutik Mall on Al Reem Island on December 1 last year.

Authorities arrested her three days later. The woman is also accused of creating an explosive device with the intention of harming others.

According to a medical report issued by the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City, the defendant “must be referred to an internal department at the hospital for further examination and should be kept under strict supervision”.

Judge Al Hajeri ordered that Al Hashemi be placed in the Behavioural Science Pavilion at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City, where a committee will examine her to provide the court with a detailed report on her condition.

Al Hashemi’s lawyer requested the court that during identification by witnesses, his client must be shown along with two other women.

To this, Judge Al Hajeri said: “This is not part of our procedure, but we will look into the matter.”

The judge also called another witness, a police officer who found some evidence in the defendant’s home, to the stand. The list of evidence was not presented in court.

Al Hashemi appeared in court with her relatives and representatives from civil society organisations. — news@khaleejtimes.com