Lorry driver in ‘revenge killing’

ABU DHABI // Police have arrested a Pakistani lorry driver who is suspected of killing a compatriot to avenge his brother’s death.

Police said the victim, M S, 67, had hired a hitman to kill the suspect’s brother in Pakistan six years ago over a land property dispute.

Brigadier General Rashid Boursheid, director of CID, said police were called to a reports that a man had died in a car fire in Baniyas earlier this month.

Further investigations showed evidence that the man had been murdered.

Brig Gen Boursheid said the suspect, M K, 38, had confessed to the crime, admitting that the victim was a member of his tribe from his home village. The suspect told police he befriended M S and stayed in the same house with him while waiting for an opportunity to kill him.

On the day of the murder, the suspect is thought to have run over the victim over while he was inspecting his car on the side of the road. He ran him over repeatedly before he poured petrol on his body and his car, lit the fire and fled the scene.