Death penalty sought for man who killed 5 in UAE massage parlour

Public prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for a worker, who is accused of stabbing five people to death at a massage parlour in Abu Dhabi. The judge at the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance, however, said that a verdict will be pronounced only after the victims' families inform the court if they are willing to pardon the defendant in exchange for blood money.

The Bangladeshi man is on trial for murdering a man for having paid sex with his Indonesian girlfriend and four others who worked with her at the massage parlour in the Musaffah industrial area last year.

Eight other Bangladeshi men, who knew about the murder but wanted to cover up for their friend, were also charged in the case.

Court documents stated that the Bangladeshi entered the massage parlour and found the Asian victim seated there. As his girlfriend entered another room with the four other women, the man asked the victim whether he was having paid sex with his lover. When he said yes, the defendant stabbed him with a knife several times until he died.

After that, the defendant went on to attack the four other women as they had let his girlfriend have sex with other men in his absence.

The case came to light after a worker reported to the police about a foul smell from a room in his neighborhood. When the police went to the parlour, they found the five bodies.

During the course of the investigation, the police arrested the defendant, his girlfriend and the eight Bangladeshis.

The defendant had admitted to the murder during his interrogation, but denied the charges in court.

ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi

Ismail Sebugwaawo

ismail@khaleejtimes.com