Man who stabbed brother in drunken fight in Abu Dhabi jailed for year

ABU DHABI // A man who stabbed his younger brother in a drunken rage was yesterday sentenced to a year in prison and fined Dh2,000.

AH, 26, from Somalia, was drunk when he went home on New Year's Eve and began to fight with his brother HH, 23, the Criminal Court heard. "He started yelling at me. I only laughed," testified the younger brother, who was stabbed by his sibling three times in the back and once in the stomach.

Their sister woke to the screams of her younger brother and took him to hospital.

In court, the elder brother denied the attack. He also denied a charge of drinking alcohol, but was found guilty of both charges. He will be deported after his jail term.

The younger brother admitted illegally consuming alcohol and was sentenced to 80 lashes - a punishment prescribed under Sharia. The verdict is subject to appeal. The defendant can withdraw his confession at any point.

hdajani@thenational.ae