Attack was attempt to harvest organs, victim says

Abu Dhabi // A victim of a knife assault in Mussaffah told the court today his assailant wanted to harvest his organs. TI, an Egyptian who works for Abu Dhabi International Airport, is accused of attempted murder after stabbing another Egyptian, MJ, nine times in different areas of his body. TI has pleaded not guilty. "The reason [for the attack] is most likely organ trade," MJ testified. "He wanted to sell my organs because he stabbed me close to the kidney." Forensic tests showed a trace of the victim's blood on TI's belt, officials said. Three months ago, according to court testimony, TI told MJ he and his cousin were launching a company and wanted to hire him for three days for Dh5,000 (US$1,400) to paint a building. After a few days, MJ asked TI to lend him Dh600, which TI promised him would be provided at a night time meeting with a friend in Mussafah. After taking a taxi from the Corniche, "we walked for a short while [and] he turned to me and said: 'do you know why I brought you here?'" MJ said. "I was surprised but, laughed and told him to meet his friend. "He then pulled a knife from his chest. He stabbed me on the left side of my chest and then on my shoulders from the back. Then I fell down." MJ claimed he pulled himself to his feet and ran to a nearby guard booth where a security worker aided him and called the police. TI denied they had even gone to Mussafah, saying: "He made up the story. I never went with him to Mussafah and he has no proof that I did." He faces the death penalty if he is found guilty of attempted first-degree murder. hhassan@thenational.ae