Worker beaten to death in Dubai after spat over work

Dubai - The five men admitted a physical assault charge claiming they did not mean to kill the victim.

Five workers beat to death an Indian fellow worker by kicking him all over his body mercilessly inside their accommodation in Al Quoz, the Court of First Instance heard on Sunday. The attack was first initiated by a 28-year-old cleaner and he was soon joined by his friends. It followed an altercation between the first attacker and an Indian man (not the victim) about the defendant's work performance.
The five men, all Bangladeshis (with ages ranging between 23 and 30), are accused of aggravated assault leading to the victim's death. They admitted a physical assault charge claiming they did not mean to kill the victim.
A police major, who conducted the forensic examination on the victim, said he was under the influence of alcohol when he was beaten up and that minimized his reaction abilities. The victim's body bore injury marks including bruises on his face which could be the result of kicking rather than falling.
Beating and kicking marks were spotted all over the victim's body including on his chest and back. However, the report said that the victim had heart problems which might have worsened during the attack.   A 26-year-old Indian cleaner said that around 8:30 pm on August 27, the victim was beaten up by four men. "Another man was present but he did not take part in the beating. The victim was first assaulted and kicked by the first accused (a cleaner) who was then joined by his colleagues. The victim was punched and kicked".
One of them hit the victim's head on the wall and they all kept beating him even as he lay down bleeding, the witness told the prosecutor.
The witness said he tried to step in to help the victim and get the assailants away from him in vain. "I saw the victim spitting blood. He was beaten up until he took his last breath. The attack lasted about 10 minutes".
A 19-year-old Indian cleaner said he was in his room when he heard a commotion. "It was in the room opposite to mine. I then saw the victim being dragged by the first accused and kicked down. He was then beaten up by several men. I tried to save his life shortly later but could not".
The trial has been adjourned to December 6.    
mary@khaleejtimes.com