DUBAI // A man who broke into an Emirates Hills home and assaulted its owners with a hammer was yesterday sentenced to life in prison. The Briton, CL, 48, who is on the run, was sentenced in absentia. Another Briton, SS, 19, and an Indian, S S, 26, who were charged with assault, attempted robbery, trespassing and breaking and entering during the same incident, were each sentenced to two years in prison.
The 60-year-old Swiss housewife N F and her 54-year-old husband J F were watching television in their villa on June 15 last year when they heard glass breaking. N F said the three men broke into the house and before she could run for cover, she was pushed to the floor by the defendant S S, who then stood on her head. Her husband J F told prosecutors that C L hit him on the back of the head with a hammer and threatened to kill him if he did not show him where the safe was.
When JF refused to answer he was again hit with the hammer. JF managed to fend off his attacker and run outside to call for help. Security guards and neighbours alerted police. A Jebel Ali police officer said that all three of the defendants had at one point been apprehended. It was unclear how C L then managed to escape police custody. The Briton was also convicted of threatening the life of the couple, while his compatriot S S was additionally charged with physically assaulting the woman. The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, where the case was heard, also referred the three men to the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours where they will face illegal alcohol consumption charges.
A Dubai Public Prosecution official said an arrest order could now be placed at all ports and border crossings. "If the person is believed to be outside of the country his location will be investigated and steps will be made to return him in order to face prosecution or serve his sentence," said Shoaib Ahly. Police could track C L by issuing an Interpol Red Notice. This is not an international arrest warrant but a local warrant circulated worldwide with a request that the wanted person be arrested with a view to extradition.
amustafa@thenational.ae
