Fourteen accused of beating man to death for reporting their bootlegging in UAE

The men, all from Bangladesh and Pakistan, attacked the victim with wooden canes at a labour camp.

ABU DHABI // Fourteen men have been accused of killing a man because they suspected him of reporting their bootlegging activities to authorities, the Criminal Court has heard.

The men, from Bangladesh and Pakistan, attacked the victim with wooden canes at a labour camp.

A security guard who works at the site told public prosecution that on the day of the incident he saw the victim running with another man, being chased by a group of men – including several of the defendants.

The victim fell to the ground and the group attacked him with the canes, killing him.

A second witness said he was sitting with the victim and the first defendant appeared in front of them carrying a wooden cane, followed by the rest of the defendants.

“He yelled, signalling towards him [the victim] and they all ran towards us. So we ran away. They kept chasing us until the victim tripped and fell. They attacked him with wooden canes,” the witness said.

He claimed that the attackers thought the victim had reported them for bootlegging.

The case was adjourned until January 14 to appoint defence lawyers.

The first defendant is also accused of drinking alcohol and working for an employer who is not his sponsor. He is also accused of using his car for taxi services without a licence.