DUBAI // A Vietnamese man tried to kill a compatriot at a party after fighting over a Dh30,000 debt, a court was told on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old was charged with attempted murder when he appeared at Dubai Criminal Court.
The court was told that the defendant and the 29-year-old victim were invited to a party at a villa in Bur Dubai on December 7, 2013. The victim, who works as a security guard, told police the defendant had borrowed money from him on different occasions and never paid him back.
“He took Dh30,000 and would stall every time I asked him to return it,” said the guard.
During the party, the victim received a call from his mother in Vietnam asking why he had not wired her any money lately. “I told her it was because a friend borrowed money and wouldn’t return it,” said the guard.
The defendant, who was offended after overhearing the conversation between the victim and his mother, then took out a knife he was hiding in a newspaper and tried to slit the guard’s throat. He failed to do so but stabbed him in the waist.
“I managed to run away and he chased me screaming that he will kill me,” said the victim, who fell over due to his wound.
The defendant then sat on top of the guard and continued to stab him until another party guest saw what was happening and rushed over to help. The victim was taken to Rashid Hospital.
It was not clear in records why the case took three years to be heard by a court. The next hearing will be on August 21.
salamir@thenational.ae
