Dubai Judge is told of bootlegging turf war

Four men have gone on trial accused of bootlegging, kidnap and assaulting a rival.

Dubai Court of First Instance was told the four defendants, who are Indian, had been illegally selling alcohol in International City, Dubai, when another man started competing against them.

Their rival was allegedly bringing booze in from Ajman.

The defendants are accused of kidnapping the man in revenge last September.

A 30-year-old Lebanese resident at International City said witnessed the kidnap from his balcony. He told the court that he saw a car pull up near his building and two men stepped out.

“They followed a third man, who was walking along, then another car came at high speed and stopped and the two men start chasing their victim, who tried to flee into another building,” the witness said.

“The men were carrying bars and assaulted the victim and dragged him to the car and escaped. I called police after taking down the plate number.”

Dubai Police launched a search for the car and discovered it had been rented to one of the defendants, who was arrested.

They claim he led them to the three other suspects.

“They claimed one of them was the leader and he wanted revenge on the victim because he was competing with them in selling alcohol,” an officer involved in the case said.

“They assaulted him and kidnapped him then dropped him near a police station in Abu Dhabi and escaped.”

Police in the capital took the man to hospital for treatment.

The four defend­ants have pleaded not guilty and the trial has been adjourned to a later date.

ali.shouk@7days.ae