Man arrested within 24 hours after he killed couple during robbery bid in Dubai

Dubai - The suspect knew the couple as he had gone to their villa to carry out some maintenance work earlier.

A suspect has been arrested within 24 hours after a couple was stabbed to death in a villa in Dubai. The suspect - identified by the police as an Asian - allegedly committed the murders during a robbery bid on June 18.

The Indian couple from Gujarat and their two children aged 18 and 13 were sleeping in the villa in Arabian Ranches when the suspect broke in. The deceased have been identified as Hiren Adhiya, a senior director at an oil and gas company, and Vidhi, according to community sources.

The suspect knew the couple as he had gone to their villa to carry out some maintenance work earlier.

Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of the police's General Department of Criminal Investigation, said the couple's 18-year-old daughter made the distress call. The suspect attacked her as well as he fled after committing the murders, the police said.

Investigations revealed that the suspect entered the two-storey villa through an unlocked verandah after climbing over a wall. He found a wallet that had Dh2,000 and went upstairs to look for more valuables. As he searched the bedroom in which the couple was sleeping, Hiren woke up. Brigadier Jamal said the suspect then allegedly stabbed the man. Hearing her husband's screams, Vidhi woke up, prompting the suspect to stab her as well. He stabbed them multiple times to make them stop screaming, the officer said.

The couple's 18-year-old daughter woke up on hearing the screams, walked to her parents' room and found them in a pool of blood. As she saw the suspect fleeing with a blood-stained knife, she raised an alarm, after which he attacked her. She sustained minor injuries in her neck. She immediately called the police.

The police reached the spot and combed the area for evidence. They found the murder weapon 1,000 metres away from the villa and handed it over to the forensic department. Investigations and data analysis led to the suspect's arrest from a neighbouring emirate.

Colonel Adel Al Joker, assistant director-general for criminal investigation, said the suspect confessed to committing the crime.

"He used to work at a maintenance company and carried out some work at the villa. While doing his job, he saw large sums of money kept at the house. He purchased a knife from a shop that was far from his residence and made his way to the villa to commit the crime," the officer said.

Col Al Joker called on residents to ensure that all entrances to their homes are locked and to instal surveillance cameras.

Consul-General of India to Dubai Vipul said the local authorities acted "very swiftly" to arrest the suspect. Calling the incident tragic, the diplomat said the mission was in touch with relatives and friends of the family.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai