Self-defence centre owners charged in assault

They beat municipality safety inspector after he found violations, prosecutors say.

DUBAI // Two men and a woman who own a self-defence centre denied this morning locking up a Dubai Municipality inspector assistant and torturing him. 

The victim, JK, Iraqi 31, testified that he went to the centre on November 23 last year, arriving about 11.30am to carry out a safety inspection after earlier finding several hygiene violations. 

He said that when he arrived at the centre in Al Riqqa, he found KW, 26, and the female defendant YY, 37, both from China. 

After finishing his work, he said, he handed a list of the violations to YY as YS, 46, a physician, walked into the centre, furious and screaming at him.

JK said YS punched him in the face, then started kicking him while YY locked the door. 

He said YY tore the violations list into small pieces and laughed as YS continued assaulting him. YS and KW carried JK and seated him on a chair, where YS beat him with a stick. 

"This is some of the torture I will give you before killing you," YS told JK according to the victim's testimony. 

YS had allegedly brought an iron bar with small nails and hit JK on his right leg. 

JK said YS held the bar over his head and told him to prepare himself for the fatal blow. But the man's phone rang and he took the call, at which point JK spotted an open window and jumped out. 

A British man, DJ, who lived next door, said he heard someone fall and rushed over to help JK. He said that he spotted signs of assault and that JK whispered to him, "don't leave me alone, the Chinese will kill me". 

Forensic reports confirmed JK was left with 25 per cent permanent disability because of the assault. 

A verdict is expected on April 5.