OBAIDA’S KILLER EXECUTED
dubai — The father of a boy who was raped and killed last year, said he could finally sleep now that the murderer of his son was executed on Thursday morning.
Nidal Eissa Abdullah, a 49-yearold man, who was convicted of sexually assaulting and killing eight-year Obaida, was executed by a firing squad. Officials said the execution took place in the presence of top police officials, Obaida’s father and two of the child’s uncles.
“I can sleep now that the spirit of my son rests in peace. God will show us His mercy and give us strength,” said Obaida’s father Ibrahim Al Aqrabawi, who earlier refused to pardon the killer.
The trial of the Jordanian man, Nidal Eissa Abdullah, came to an end in February after the Dubai Court of Cassation upheld the capital punishment that was given by the two lower courts. He was found guilty of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the boy, also from Jordan.
The boy went missing on May 20, 2016, and his body was found two days later on the side of a road in Al Warqa. Nidal was found guilty of committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.
dubai — A 49-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting and killing an eight-year-old boy was executed early on Thursday morning after the death sentence had been approved by Dubai Ruler, said Eissam Issa Al Humaidan, Dubai Attorney-General.
The trial of the Jordanian man, Nidal Issa Abdullah, came to an end in February after the Dubai higher court upheld the capital punishment of the two lower courts. He was found guilty of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and strangling to death Obaida, also from Jordan.
Defence lawyer Ali Musabeh said on his Twitter account: “Today morning, Dubai Police executed the death sentence issued by Dubai courts, after it had been approved by the Dubai Ruler, on the defendant Nidal Issa, killer of Obaida, in Al Ruwayya area in Dubai.”
Khaleej Times has learnt that the execution happened around 9am in the presence of Attorney-General Al Humaidan; Major-General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, assistant commander-in-chief of Dubai police for the criminal investigation affairs; the child’s father and his two uncles.
The victim’s father expressed satisfaction with the prevalence of justice. “Now we are finally relieved that justice has been served. We would like to thank the UAE authorities.”
Lawyer Obeid Al Mazimi, representing Obaida’s parents, told Khaleej Times that the execution sends a clear and decisive message of justice. “It will be a message of deterrence to anyone who might even think of committing such crimes in our country. The security of our society is a priority and everyone should know they shall get punishment for their crimes.”
Al Mazimi said that Obaida’s parents were informed about the execution date about one week earlier. “Abdullah tried hard till the last moment to get a pardon from the child’s father but in vain.”
The boy went missing on May 20, 2016, and his body was found two days later on the side of a road in Al Warqa. Abdullah was found guilty of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing the victim while drunk.
The Dubai Public Prosecution has been pushing all along for the court to inflict the death penalty against the accused.
Musabeh pleaded earlier for the court to exert leniency towards his client on the grounds he was showing regret over what he did. He said his client was under the influence of alcohol and could not recall what happened that night. He also cited his client’s claims of being rejected within his own family which contributed somehow to his alcohol abuse.
A psychiatric report concluded Abdullah was mentally stable and sane and thus could be held responsible for his actions. The court ruling stated that the convict’s body be repatriated to his home country after the execution.
A death penalty ruling that comes out of the Dubai Court of Cassation has to be approved by the Dubai Ruler before it can be executed, as per article 67 of the UAE Federal Penal Code. Convicts sentenced to death are executed in Dubai by a firing squad.
mary@khaleejtimes.com
It will be a message of deterrence to anyone who might even think of committing such crimes in our country. The security of our society is a priority and everyone should know they shall get punishment for their crimes.” Lawyer Obeid Al Mazimi, representing Obaida’s parents