Greengrocer jailed, fined Dhs10,000 in Dubai stabbing case

The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the initial ruling that sentenced an Asian greengrocer to one month in prison, a fine of Dhs10,000 and deportation upon completion of his sentence.

The vendor was found guilty of stabbing a countryman following an altercation. He pulled out a knife and stabbed the man twice in the chest and back.

Details of the case date back to February last year, when an Asian man filed a report with Dubai Investment Zone Police stating that someone had been stabbed following an argument.

The reporter explained that he had seen the victim kick the accused, grab his neck, push him to the ground, and attempt to leave the scene.

The reporter continued that the accused, a greengrocer working at the scene, stood up, pulled out a knife and chased the victim.

He stabbed the victim twice — first in the back and then in the chest — before fleeing the scene. The victim was taken to hospital after the police and ambulance arrived.

During the investigation, the victim stated that he had been walking with a friend after consuming alcohol at their residence.

When he witnessed a fight between several people, he tried to break it up. However, the accused, who had no prior knowledge of the victim, assaulted and stabbed him.

The report from the General Department of Criminal Evidence and Criminology stated that the victim had sustained injuries including spleen damage and internal bleeding, which left him in a critical condition with an estimated recovery time of over 20 days.

During the investigation, a police officer stated that the team had identified and arrested the suspect.

The suspect claimed to work as a greengrocer at the scene of the incident. While he was working, the victim approached him.

The victim was drunk, smelling of alcohol, and was accompanied by another person. The victim then assaulted the suspect, grabbing him by the neck, kicking him and pushing him to the ground.

The defendant admitted that he had chased the victim as he tried to escape, pulled out a knife that he used at work and stabbed him twice.

He then fled the scene when he saw the victim bleeding. He added that he had not intended to kill the victim, but rather wanted to take revenge for the assault. The Court convicted him and issued the aforementioned ruling.