DUBAI // The Criminal Court has approved an early release request by a policeman who strangled to death a security guard during a robbery almost 20 years ago.
AA, from Pakistan, was 27 when he and four others carried out the robbery. The five men carefully plotted the raid on December 3, 1993, in which they strangled the security guard at Caprisun Arabian refreshments with a piece of electric wire before covering his head with duct tape. They made sure that he was dead before stealing Dh71,948.
Three of the men - AA, his fellow Pakistani policeman AK, who was 25, and the unemployed Sri Lankan AG, were originally sentenced to death.
However the sentences for AA and AG were commuted on appeal to life in prison. AK's death sentence was upheld by both the Appeals Court and the Cassation Court, though it is not clear whether he has been executed. The other two were sentenced to life in prison.
The Criminal Court heard on September 4 that AA had a letter from his prison's management vouching that he had been well behaved during his incarceration and that he had received a waiver from the son of the security guard.
AA will be released and deported.
salamir@thenational.ae
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
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Rating: 3.5/5
Getting there
The flights
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Vidaamuyarchi
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Rating: 4/5
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Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
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Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
