Man accused of assault with wrench and spoon

DUBAI // A Bangladeshi man has been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault after allegedly beating a compatriot with a wrench and a large metallic spoon and pushing him out of a third-storey window. The labourer N Z, 32, is accused in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance of kidnapping M M, 25, on Jan 31 with two other assailants from the al Ghubaiba bus terminal in Bur Dubai.

M M was forced into a car at knifepoint and taken to an apartment in the Naif district, records showed. He told prosecutors that the defendants demanded he produce a girl who worked as a prostitute for them or pay them Dh10,000 (US$2,720). M M testified that he was assaulted with the wrench and spoon by the defendants when he denied any knowledge of the girl and refused to pay. The men then shouted that this would be the last day in his life, opened the window and tossed him out. M M's life was saved after a number of operations were performed on him at the Rashid Hospital.

The other suspects fled the country, according to court records, while N Z, who has denied the charges against him, was caught while trying to flee through Dubai International Airport. The court adjourned the case to June 13. [e-mail]