DUBAI // A worker who stabbed a bus driver 10 times after arguing about early morning pick-up times has been sentenced to three years in jail.
The bus company changed the pick-up time from 4.30am to 4am to ensure staff were not late for work.
“No one had complained about it except the Egyptian defendant,” said the Jordanian victim, 35, who added that on June 16 last year he told the defendant it was the company’s decision and the argument ended.
On August 18 at 3.30pm, the defendant, 24, got on the bus and sat behind the driver.
“He started questioning me, asking if I went to Sharjah and met his brother and spoke badly about him,” the victim said.
“I told him I did no such thing and I don’t even know his brother.”
The defendant then pulled out a knife and stabbed the driver in the neck and body. The victim passed out because of his injuries.
“I woke up at the hospital,” he said.
Police were contacted by a security guard who saw the attack.
“I was standing near the accommodation in Al Muhaisnah 2 when I saw the defendant stabbing the driver. I called police at once,” said the Pakistani, 25.
The defendant was not in court to enter a plea against a charge of attempted murder last November.
Dubai Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to three years in jail to be followed by deportation.
salamir@thenational.ae
