Tourist gets jail for stabbing club bouncer

UNDER-AGE SUSPECT ATTACKED EMPLOYEE AS HE WAS DENIED ENTRY

Atourist has been jailed for one year for attempting to kill a bouncer who threw him out of a nightclub because he was under-age. The 20-year-old Saudi visitor, M.M., rushed to a grocery store, bought a knife and went back to the nightclub where he stabbed the Egyptian bouncer in March.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted M.M. of attempting to kill the bouncer B.S. although he had entered a not guilty plea.

“I did not stab him,” the defendant told the court. Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said: “The knife will be confiscated and the accused will be deported following the completion of his jail term.”

According to yesterday’s ruling, the defendant was handed a lenient and reduced punishment because he is under the age of 21. Records said the defendant intended to try to kill the Egyptian when he stabbed him.

B.S. told prosecutors that the incident happened when the defendant was drunk as he arrived at the entrance and insisted on entering the nightclub.

“I denied him entry because he is less than 21 years of age. He got angry and cursed me, then walked away. Shortly after that he returned and took me by surprise and stabbed me in my shoulder,” claimed the bouncer.

One of the hotel’s Egyptian employees told prosecutors that he spotted B.S. forcing the accused out of the nightclub because he was under-age.

“At first the Saudi refused to leave, but when bouncers escorted him out by force, he cursed B.S ... Our manager contacted the police as soon as he heard the defendant making trouble. Later, I heard my co-worker [B.S.] shouting and saw the defendant taking out a knife,” the employee testified. Yesterday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.