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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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
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