Student sued for disfiguring friend’s face

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A student kicked and disfigured a female friend after a dispute during revision time, the Dubai Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.

The Asian defendant, 22, assaulted the Indian woman –an employee, 36- inside her apartment in Al Qusais and left her with injuries. She survived with a 5 per cent permanent facial deformity, according to a forensic report.

Jail wardens failed to present him. Her lawyer asked for time to prepare a civil lawsuit. The Dubai Criminal Court adjourned the hearing till June 12 and asked prosecutors to make sure the defendant is brought that day.

Police and prosecution records revealed that the two friends would often get together in order to revise their books. This continued until when they had a heated argument on the evening of Mar.24 last year.

“I got to know him as we were studying together. Our friendship developed. He would habitually come to my apartment for studies. We were revising at around 8pm when we disputed over something. He started beating me.

“He slapped me and punched my left cheek. I lost balance and slumped onto the ground due to the strength of the blow. He stepped on my neck with one foot then stomped on my stomach,” she complained before investigators.

“He took me to Rashid Hospital and told me he would pay the treatment costs of Dhs25, 000.” The next day she went to Al Qusais Police Station and filed a complaint against him. The cause of the argument was not disclosed.

A medical report showed that by December last year, the victim’s health condition had not stabilised. Another report dated March 20 showed he caused her fractures in the left side of her face that affected her hearing and sight.

Police and prosecution records revealed that during earlier questionings the defendant reportedly confessed to have assaulted her and caused her the injuries discussed in the medical report.