Fingernail clippers used to attack man and rob him

Two Indian men are accused of mugging a Bangladeshi man, severing a nerve in his hand with fingernail clippers and stealing Dh11,500 from him.

DUBAI // Two Indian men have been accused of mugging a Bangladeshi man, severing a nerve in his hand with fingernail clippers and stealing Dh11,500 from him. Because the clippers were allegedly used in the assault, the men were charged at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance with night theft with a weapon, which carries a minimum jail sentence of two years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The defendants, MH and MA, both 36, were also charged with overstaying their visit visas. The men denied the theft charges and claimed they were unable to pay their overstay fines. The alleged victim, MK, told police the two men attacked him and stole the money on March 14 in Deira. Forensic reports showed a nerve had been cut in MK's right hand, leaving him with an estimated five per cent paralysis in it.

When police began looking for the suspects, they discovered one was already in custody for violating the immigration law. Police said he confessed when questioned. The second defendant was arrested in the Manama area of Deira. The court adjourned the hearing until October 20 to hear more witnesses. [e-mail]