DUBAI // A Bangladeshi worker who tried to bury his countryman alive after throwing him in a ditch then stuffing sand down his throat over a Dh3,000 debt was jailed for one month on Wednesday.
Dubai Criminal Court heard that on September 2 last year M S, 33, told A M, a carpenter, that he had money buried in sand near Al Qusais graveyard to lure him into meeting there. The two men dug a hole before M S took A M by surprise and threw him in the ditch and stuffed sand into his mouth.
M S, who denied attempted murder, said: “He asked me to come see him so he could return Dh3,000 I gave him for helping me get a work visa for my brother. But, when I arrived, he told me that he wouldn’t get my brother a visa and would not return my money.
“Then he and two other men who were with him assaulted me so I just punched him in the face but did not try to kill him.”
Policeman H A, 47, said: “The victim was thrown into the hole and M S started covering him with sand and stuffing his mouth with sand. A number of passers-by saved him after they found him almost buried, except for his head and arms.”
M S will be deported after completing his jail term.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
