DUBAI // A man has admitted to the rape and murder of eight-year-old Obaida Al Aqrabawi, who went missing from his Sharjah home last month.
Obaida was last seen about 6pm on May 20 in front of his father’s garage in Sharjah’s industrial area, where he also lived.
The Jordanian boy’s body was found by Academic City Road in Al Warqa, Dubai, on May 22.
A Jordanian man, 48, appeared on Monday before Dubai Criminal Court to face charges of kidnapping a child, threats and physical abuse, rape and premeditated murder, drinking alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol.
He stood before a packed court and admitted that he strangled Obaida in Al Mamzar after raping him. “It happened,” he told judges. He also admitted to drinking alcohol and driving under the influence.
“Did you rape him in the back seat of your car?” the presiding judge asked.
“Yes, they say it happened but I was in a sort of a coma. I don’t recall. I was intoxicated,” the accused said. But he denied kidnapping Obaida. “It’s not true, he often went out with me.”
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Lawyer Mohammed Al Mazmi, representing Obaida’s family, told the court they would seek financial compensation for their loss through the civil courts.
The next hearing has been scheduled for June 27 to appoint a defence lawyer.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
THE BIO
Occupation: Specialised chief medical laboratory technologist
Age: 78
Favourite destination: Always Al Ain “Dar Al Zain”
Hobbies: his work - “ the thing which I am most passionate for and which occupied all my time in the morning and evening from 1963 to 2019”
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Favorite football club: Al Ain Sports Club
The bio
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Torque: 623Nm
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