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Fri, Dec 05, 2025 | Jumada al-Thani 14, 1447 | Fajr 05:28 | DXB 
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Torture of kids case: Father, girlfriend found mentally sound
The psychological evaluation of an Emirati father and his compatriot pregnant girlfriend found them mentally sound at the time when they allegedly tortured his two daughters which led to the death of one of them, eight-year-old Wadeema, a court heard.
The Court of First Instance will try H.S., 29, an ex-security supervisor, and his 27-year-old girlfriend, A.A., as mentally sane individuals on the charges of torture, confinement and unauthorised burial of a body.
The court earlier ordered that both H.S. and A.A. be psychologically evaluated by hospital experts to determine whether they suffered from any mental illness and whether, if any, it affected their behaviour, consciousness and perception of acts and consequences mainly at the time of the crimes they allegedly committed.
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The forensic doctor, who examined Wadeema’s body, told the court bench that he could not determine the exact cause of her death since her body was found in May end, about six months after the alleged torture. The body was found in an advanced state of decomposition.
The apparent marks of physical abuse on and unhygienic conditions in which Wadeema’s seven-year-old sister, Mira, was found in the studio flat rented by her father in International City led the police to the discovery of the death and unauthorised burial of Wadeema.
H.S.’s 24-year-old ex-wife said in the court on Wednesday that she had been denied the right to see her daughters for a long time by H.S. who had been taking care of them.
The girls’ 30-year-old uncle, a marine officer, said his brother loved his daughters and treated them well. But A.A. beat them up and burnt them as his niece, Mira, told him.
The court bench adjourned the hearing to September 30 to listen to the testimonies of more witnesses, including Mira.
H.S. is accused of torturing and illegally confining and depriving his two daughters of their freedom for about six months with the use of force, which led to the death of Wadeema and the injury of Mira with a permanent disability of 10 per cent due to the burns on all her body. He earlier pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution records, the two defendants used different kinds of torture on the two girls, including beating them with a stun gun and an electric wire, burning them with hot iron and lit cigarettes and pouring boiling water on them. The confinement used to be in the bathroom or closet for hours with no water or food.
H.S. admitted earlier that he hid Wadeema’s body by burying it in a remote desert location in Al Badayer in Sharjah without proper official authorisation. He alleged that he was mentally ill and was not aware of what he was doing.
A.A. earlier pleaded guilty to the torture and confinement charges, claiming she did it by herself. She also admitted that she hid the victim’s body with H.S.
It could not be confirmed whether H.S. was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the victim’s death. — mary@khaleejtimes.com
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