'Brothel owners' have attempted murder sentences overturned

Three Vietnamese men who were accused of attacking pair who were going to report their 'brothel' walk free after appeals court throws out their two-year sentences.

Three men jailed for two years each for being brothel owners and trying to kill potential customers will walk free after they were acquitted as prosecutors appealed for increased sentences.

Dubai Court of Appeal gave no reason for finding the men not guilty but prosecutors had said that they brutally assaulted a 29-year-old Emirati and an Indian man, 25, who threatened to call police and report that their massage centre was being used as a brothel.
The pair met one of the defendants at Dragonmart, near International City, at 11.40pm on January 14 and the latter recommended the massage centre.
After arriving at the place and indicating that they wanted to call police, the pair were met by a gang of more than 10 men, they said.
"They held swords and knives. We ran away but they were fast and my friend fell while running so they gathered around him and started assaulting him with swords and a taser," said the Emirati, who returned to help his friend and was also assaulted.
A passer-by saw the assault and called police, who arrived and referred the pair to hospital, where they were treated for near-fatal wounds.
"My friend lost a finger and suffered multiple severe wounds in the head and arms," said the Emirati.

A medical report said the Emirati suffered a 10 per cent and the Indian a 25 per cent permanent disability.
Police arrested three Vietnamese men aged 23, 24 and 30 the day after the incident. They were faced with charges of forming a gang, physical assault and attempted murder, all of which they denied at Dubai Criminal Court but were found guilty of.
They were sentenced to two years, followed by deportation, but prosecutors appealed seeking a harsher sentence only to be dismayed to find that the appeal court acquitted all three men.