Man kills co-worker in Dubai 'to go to prison', is jailed for life

Dubai - He will deported to Pakistan after serving his 25-year jail term.

A 27-year-old construction worker, who strangled an Indian workmate to death with a piece of cloth while asleep, was sentenced to life in prison by a Dubai court on Monday.
According to public prosecution records, the Pakistani worker was determined to commit any crime that could send him to jail as he didn't want to go back to his home country since he had an issue with his brother. He pleaded guilty to a murder charge when he appeared in court earlier. 
The Dubai Court of First convicted him of a murder charge and ordered his deportation after he completed a 25-year imprisonment.
The incident was reported on February 26 this year at Al Rashidiya police station.
A police captain said an assault incident was reported at 2.25pm at a building construction site in Nad Al Hamar. "We learned that one of the persons involved in the fight died on the way to hospital. When we reached the scene, we found the defendant was caught by police patrol officers. Witnesses informed us having seen the defendant lying over the victim and strangling him with a piece of cloth."
The captain told the prosecutor that the accused confessed to him having killed the victim with no prior disagreements. "He admitted he killed the victim as he slept during the break time.
"He said he strangled the victim to death. The man expressed his desire to go to prison as he did not want to travel back home. He claimed that a man filmed him naked and sent his photos to his brother in Pakistan and that his brother was threatening him. The worker claimed he was determined to commit any crime which could put him in jail."
The police officer recalled that the accused looked normal right after the incident and did not show any signs of regret. "He confessed that he did not let go of the victim until he felt he became motionless."
A 24-year-old Egyptian worker recounted that he and other workers saw the accused man strangling the victim while placing his right knee over his shoulder. "The victim was then bleeding from his nose. Even though we took him away from the victim, the defendant strangled him again with the same piece of cloth."
The defendant has the right to appeal the court ruling within 15 days.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai
• Pakistan