Thirteen Dubai police deny charges of fatal torture, beating

Thirteen Dubai Police personnel have denied using torture and extensive beatings during an interrogation which allegedly led to a Pakistani man's death and injured two others. The suspects, including a lieutenant colonel, six lieutenants and six officers, appeared at the Dubai Court of First Instance Tuesday. Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout read various charges including abuse of power, unlawful detention of the deceased, BK, and his two compatriots, torture, extensive use of force during interrogation, forgery and giving a false statement during official questioning by a public prosecutor. The suspects, including eight Emiratis, two Pakistanis and two Omanis, who are all on bail, could be heard repeatedly saying: "No," denying their charges in courtroom four. Dubai Police's forensic report confirmed that BK died due to extensive beating which caused acute bleeding in his brain. BK's injured compatriots were identified as 38-year-old SH and 33-year-old MS "I ask the court to issue an order banning journalists from reporting this case. I also ask the jury to hold the court proceedings behind closed doors," argued defence advocate Eisa Bin Haidar. Advocates Mansour Lootah and Ali Musabbeh, who are also defending the suspects, asked the court for an adjournment to examine the file paper. "The court reconvenes on June 26 for the defence team to examine the files," said Presiding Judge Barghout. Meanwhile, advocate Abdullah Al Madani lodged a civil lawsuit claiming Dh20,100 in temporary compensation for MS's emotional and health damages. "My client was referred to Ajman prosecution for being involved in a kidnap case. While he was being detained and questioned by Dubai police, the suspects beat him and he was admitted to hospital for treatment. We ask the court to order the defendants to jointly pay Dh20,100 in temporary compensation to MS against his moral, financial and bodily damages," said Al Madani. According to the forensic doctor's prosecution statement, MS sustained burns which were caused by a chemical substance used to remove rust. "There were bruises, cuts and injuries over different parts of his body as well. Due to the severe and extensive beating, MS suffered a critical kidney failure. Meanwhile SH was beaten and kicked," the doctor claimed. According to charge sheets read out in court, prosecutors accused the lieutenant colonel, four lieutenants and four officers, with unlawfully locking up BK in Naif police station. Prosecutors charged three officers with torturing and using extensive force which led to BK's death. A lieutenant and an officer were charged with beating and torturing MS to force him to confess and extract information concerning the case of a kidnap which led to death. Two officers and a lieutenant were accused of torturing SH and forcing him to confess and give information on other suspects. One lieutenant was charged with forging a report dealing with the dates MS and SH were detained. From / Gulf News