Siblings row turns physical after brother brings 'abnormal' women home

DUBAI // A man assaulted four siblings who caught him sneaking two women out of the family's villa last Ramadan, a court heard.

The two Emirati brothers OA, a 29-year-old inspector at the RTA, and JA, 42, were on their way to Friday prayers on July 27 when they noticed their elder brother MA, 44, ushering the women away from their villa in Mirdif and into a taxi.

When the two younger brothers returned from prayers they found the older brother arguing with and hitting their two sisters.

"He then assaulted me, he grabbed a knife and threatened to stab me with it," one of the younger brothers told the Misdemeanours Court, adding that the older brother was "not normal" and might have been under the influence of drugs. "I know that he takes banned drugs and hashish," he said.

The other younger brother said the two Arab women also "looked abnormal".

He tried to protect his sisters from attack, but was then assaulted. He called police when the older brother picked up a knife.

MA dismissed his siblings' version of events. He said that he was on his way to Friday prayers when his sisters suddenly assaulted him for no reason. "I defended myself and assaulted them back," he said, adding that "the medications I take are prescribed by Rashid Hospital".

He said he took one tablet at Suhour and one before Imsak while fasting for the Holy Month.

The next hearing was scheduled for November 27.

salamir@thenational.ae