DUBAI // Two masseuses were abducted, threatened with beheading and held for a Dh25,000 ransom by five Chinese men, a court heard yesterday. The men stand accused of carrying out the attack on a 42-year-old Chinese national, ZY, and her friend in August of last year. ZY told the court her ordeal began when she received a phone call requesting her services as a masseuse. She and her friend, who was not identified, then took a taxi to the China Cluster at International City. When they arrived, a man got out of a car with tinted windows and grabbed ZY by the throat, she said.
The man then placed his hand over her friend's mouth and held her at knife point, ordering them not to resist, the court heard. The two were then threatened with beheading. ZY said she offered the defendants Dh10,000 to let them go, but the kidnappers demanded Dh25,000. ZY's husband in China deposited the money in the Chinese bank account of one of the defendents and sent a receipt by fax. However, Chinese authorities blocked withdrawal of the funds after the husband informed local police. The defendants, identified as ST, 30, WT, 29, SS, 22, CL, 21 and YZ, 32, face kidnap and theft charges at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance. Prosecutors say ST and WT have given confessions. YZ is being tried in his absence. All four of those in court denied the charges.
A Dubai police officer told the court that the defendants were also under investigation in connection with seven other kidnappings. They were arrested after ST was caught in a sting by the CID. The defendants will appear in court again on August 22. newsdesk@thenational.ae
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
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SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
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NBA Finals so far
(Toronto lead 3-1 in best-of-seven series_
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105