DUBAI // A brothel guard who attacked a 19-year-old student with a cleaver, almost ending his life, was on Tuesday sentenced to a year in jail.
Syrian victim M B was with a friend when they visited a flat in International City to hand its tenants a notice to leave. They were allowed into the flat after a Chinese man opened the door for them.
“Four women came from inside and told me and my friend to pick one from them. We knew then it was a brothel and they thought we were customers,” M B said.
He said that his friend called his father to inform him that the flat he had leased was being used as a brothel, then he called police.
As the two stepped out of the flat, a group of men carrying swords and meat cleavers attacked them.
“I was hit in the head with a meat cleaver, after which I fainted,” the Syrian said.
He had injuries to his head and left arm, according to records.
Pakistani M M, 26, who lives in the flat next door, testified that he heard noise on the day of the incident.
“I heard a woman screaming; it was nearly midnight. I opened my door and saw a man carrying a sword,” M M said.
Police arrived and only F T, 26, the brothel guard, who is from Vietnam, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
On Tuesday he was convicted and sentenced to a year in jail, to be followed by deportation. He was also fined Dh10,000.
salamir@thenational.ae