DUBAI // Thirteen men accused of bootlegging, kidnap, torture, murder and rape must wait another month for a verdict.
Hamad Abdel Latif, the presiding judge at Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, yesterday adjourned the case until February 7 for further deliberation.
All the men are charged with kidnap, murder and hiding bodies. Five are also charged with sexual assault, and 10 with consumption of alcohol. All 13 deny the charges, but could face the death penalty if convicted.
Prosecutors say the 12 Indians and one Pakistani kidnapped Abu Baker Nujila and another man who has not been identified on January 1, 2009, and assaulted them with metal bars, pipes, sticks, swords, machetes and knives. Five of the men are then alleged to have raped the victims before the whole gang killed and buried the two men in makeshift sand-covered graves in Jebel Ali.
The gang was arrested on January 25 after the bodies were found. Prosecutors say the attackers were still in possession of swords, machetes and pipes when they were arrested. When questioned, they said they were carrying the weapons for self-defence against rival gangs.
During closing arguments before the court on December 6, defence lawyers asked for acquittal. Abdel Rahman al Baloushi argued the evidence of the arresting officers should be dismissed because they had failed to identify his clients.