Pair accused of death-plunge threat over sister insult

Two teenagers allegedly threatened to throw a 13-year-old boy off a roof because he insulted one of their sisters.

The defendants, both Syrian and aged 16, appeared at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to assault and denying a person’s freedom.

Prosecutors claim the boys grabbed the teenager near his home in Abu Dhabi and dragged him to the rooftop of a high-rise building, where they tortured and threatened him.

“The teenagers beat up the boy and threatened to push him off the building as they dragged him towards the roof edge,” a prosecutor said, adding the victim was so scared he wet himself.

The boy’s father later filed a complaint and the police arrested the defendants who, during initial investigations, admitted beating up the victim because he had “messed” with one of their sisters. “We wanted to punish him,” one of the defendants is alleged to have said.

However, the judge in the case told 7DAYS yesterday that the victim’s father had withdrawn his complaint.

The judge said the man claims the defendants are like sons to him as they all come from Syria.

A verdict is due in the case next week and the judge said the boys would likely receive lighter sentences for their crimes as a result of the father’s actions if they are found guilty. The judge said they would likely spend one or two months in juvenile detention.

ismail@7days.ae