DUBAI // A senior officer from Naif police in Dubai alleged in court yesterday that a prisoner who died an hour after being taken into his custody had been beaten by Omani police.
BK, a Pakistani, had been arrested in Oman in connection with a kidnapping and murder case. He was transferred to Dubai police on May 28, 2010.
Major AM told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance that BK was presented to him in such a bad state "he had to be supported by two policemen to stand".
He said policemen at Naif had not tortured BK, while the 13 Dubai CID officers charged in the case also denied torturing the suspect.
"The facial expression of the suspect was unnatural, his eyes were wide open, almost looking like a surprised person. He seemed to be in shock," AM told Judge El Saeed Bargouth.
"He looked frail and seemed close to passing out several times during the questioning."
During questioning by the judge, AM said he did not see bleeding or ripped clothes on the suspect. He said about an hour passed between when BK arrived and his death.
"He was taken to the CID office, which was 20 metres away from mine," he said.
However, two other men, MS and SH, who were arrested with BK, told prosecutors that Dubai CID officers tortured the three of them at Naif police station.
MS said he was arrested in Al Satwa, then placed in a CID car, where he was slapped and punched in the face, abdomen and thighs.
He was taken to Al Rafaa police station, then moved to Naif station.
Prosecutors said officers there hit him in the groin with a metal bar and a wooden stick, then stripped him naked and sprayed his body with WD40, an anti-rust agent.
Judge Bargouth questioned AM about the results of the forensic report presented by prosecutors.
"The report claimed that fresh bruises appeared on the victim's body, indicating that he might have been assaulted while in custody in Dubai; what do you have to say about that?" he asked.
AM denied any knowledge of the report.
AE, a forensics expert who examined BK's body, told prosecutors the man had suffered bruises all over his body, and that the cause of death was bleeding in the brain.
AE said the bruises were probably caused by sticks or bars, but some had been caused by bare hands.
The court adjourned the hearing to January 31 for the testimony of AE, MS and SH.
amustafa@thenational.ae
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Date started: 2012
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Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
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Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
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MATCH INFO
Chelsea 1 (Hudson-Odoi 90 1')
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Man of the match: Ilkay Gundogan (Man City)
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Name: Lamsa
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Launched: 2014
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Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million