DUBAI // A Sudanese businessman was kidnapped and tortured by four men who demanded US$400,000 (Dh1.4 million) for his release, a court heard yesterday.
The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance has charged A A, 36; H A, 25; M M, 39; and A M, 40, all from Syria, with kidnap, impersonating police, theft, threatening life and assault.
The four suspects were in a car when they stopped the victim, 54, near his home in Freej Al Murar, in Baraha area, the court heard.
One of the suspects told the victim he was a major in the police force and asked him to get into the car. They drove him to Ajman in the early morning of September 27 of last year. He was taken to a newly built flat in Al Nua'aimiya area, where he was tied up and locked in a room.
The suspects reportedly contacted the victim's wife in Sudan, and told her they would kill him unless she paid a ransom of $400,000.
Unable to raise the money, his wife asked a relative in Dubai to report the kidnapping. The relative reported the incident a few days later.
Meanwhile, the businessman was beaten and burnt with an iron. He survived on a little bread and a few drops of water each day .
The case was adjourned to June 12 for the men to appoint a lawyer.
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JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO
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First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
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Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
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Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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