DUBAI // A Pakistani who went to the aid of his cousin who was being harassed by a gang of 13 was stabbed, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old man went to his cousin’s flat in Naif at 11pm on September 29 last year after his relative called him to say he had been confronted by 13 men, also from Pakistan.
When he arrived, the gang attacked the victim and his cousin. “They assaulted my cousin with sticks then chased me with knives and stabbed me. I collapsed and lost consciousness,” the victim, who was stabbed in the thigh and the abdomen, told prosecutors.
His cousin was able to escape and called the victim’s brother for help.
“The attackers were still there, they were standing nearby and one of them was holding a kitchen knife,” said the 27-year-old sibling, adding that police arrived and arrested the men.
An ambulance took the victim to hospital.
“One of the attackers was splashing water in the corridor so we had an argument after which he and the other men started bugging me,” said the 33-year-old cousin.
The 13 men were charged with attempted murder but only 11 were present in court to deny the charge.
Five of the defendants were separately charged with physical assault, while one was charged with issuing insults using foul language. They also denied the additional charges.
The next hearing will be on May 10.
salamir@thenational.ae
