'I will kill you and your children' text lands man in Dubai court

Accused sent a number of text messages to his British business partner threatening how he knew where his children's school was located, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

DUBAI // A Syrian man told a British business partner that he would kill him and his children if he did not stop pestering him for money, a court has heard.

ZM, 23, sent a number of text messages to 37-year-old HH, including one stating "I will kill you and kill your children" and another mentioning how he knew where his children's school was located, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The Syrian was said to have sent the messages to stop the Brit from hassling him for his share of the profits from a joint business venture buying and selling diesel.

In his testimony, HH said he received the messages on March 10.

He added that he first met the defendant shortly before the incident, when ZM rented a car from him. "He told me his father was a businessman and owned a real estate company and a number of villas in Abu Dhabi," said the victim, adding that ZM then convinced him that the two should partner in the fuel business.

"He told me that the man who was going to sell us the fuel was his father's partner. Shortly after we started the business I was surprised to know that he took my share from the profits," said HH.

Records state that ZM sent a message to HH which read: "If you called, i will kill you."

Another SMS read: "To lose money is better than losing yourself and your family, my advice to you if you wanted to live in safety with your family is to keep your mouth shut and never try to call or send a message."

The defendant was not present in court to enter a plea. The next hearing will be on December 9.