ABU DHABI // The woman accused of killing American teacher Ibolya Ryan on Reem Island will be tested for mental and behavioural disorders, the Federal Supreme Court said on Tuesday.
Alaa Al Hashemi, 30, is accused of stabbing the 47-year-old mother of three to death in Boutik Mall in December.
In a previous hearing, the Emirati said she was “possessed with evil spirits”. She said she had dealt with a “chronic mental illness” since she was 3 and would see “ghost-like people” who forced her to play with them.
This got worse as she grew older, Ms Al Hashemi told the court three weeks ago.
“I would see women who would call on me and ask me to play with them. When I didn’t, they bothered me.”
She said she “acts without thinking or realising”, and the visions she had were similar to being possessed.
Last week, Judge Falah Al Hajeri ruled she be sent to a hospital for testing. A medical report then said she must see a specialist and be strictly supervised.
Judge Al Hajeri requested Ms Al Hashemi be examined by a medical committee and for a detailed report on her condition to be presented to court.
Ms Ryan, an American nursery teacher who was born in Romania and raised in Hungary, was stabbed to death in the toilets near Waitrose in the mall on December 1.
Five witnesses due to give evidence on Tuesday failed to appear at the hearing. Judge Al Hajeri called for them to attend the next hearing and fined each of them Dh1,000.
Ms Al Hashemi’s lawyer, Abdulqader Al Haithami, said his client should appear alongside two other women if the witnesses were asked to identify her.
“This is not part of our procedures but we will have to look into the matter,” judge Al Hajeri said.
The judge called another witness, a police officer who found evidence in the defendant’s home, although the details were not disclosed.
Ms Al Hashemi is also accused of trying to murder a doctor and his family by planting a home-made bomb outside their apartment, in a building on the Corniche.
She is charged with sending money to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, in Yemen, knowing that it would be used for terrorist activities.
The defendant is also said to have built two websites where she spread terrorist ideals, promoted ISIL philosophy and defamed symbols of the UAE, in an attempt to ruin the country’s reputation.
The case was adjourned until Monday.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Oppenheimer
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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
Scorebox
Dubai Sports City Eagles 7 Bahrain 88
Eagles
Try: Penalty
Bahrain
Tries: Gibson 2, Morete 2, Bishop 2, Bell 2, Behan, Fameitau, Sanson, Roberts, Bennett, Radley
Cons: Radley 4, Whittingham 5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
How to increase your savings
- Have a plan for your savings.
- Decide on your emergency fund target and once that's achieved, assign your savings to another financial goal such as saving for a house or investing for retirement.
- Decide on a financial goal that is important to you and put your savings to work for you.
- It's important to have a purpose for your savings as it helps to keep you motivated to continue while also reducing the temptation to spend your savings.
- Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
