Fifteen-year sentence upheld for murder of Filipina in Dubai

Boyfriend killed her during argument, prosecutors said.

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DUBAI // The 15-year sentence for a Filipino man who killed his girlfriend was affirmed this morning by the Court of Appeal.

The 36-year-old driver EG broke down in tears in the Criminal Court of First Instance last year as he was told prosecutors sought the death penalty. He told the court at his first hearing in August 2010 that he loved Emma Angos Cambalon and did not mean to kill her.

EG, a driver, was convicted of choking Ms Cambalon to death while she sat in the passenger seat of his car. Ms Cambalons body was found laying naked, dumped near a villa behind Al Bustan Centre in al Tawar on March 26, 2010.

Investigators said evidence eventually pointed to EG, who confessed during questioning.

"He said that the two had an argument and he strangled her with his belt, then placed her in the car and dumped her after taking away all her identifications," a CID lieutenant testified.

A Dubai Police forensic specialist, however, told prosecutors the woman was murdered inside the car. He said Ms Cambalon died within minutes.

Ms Cambalon, a 35-year-old expatriate worker from the Philippines, was the mother of four: a 17-year-old boy and three girls ages 15, 12 and eight.

But with no documents to go on, it took police four weeks to identify Ms Cambalon; eventually a friend came forward.

EG will be deported after serving his prison term.

salamir@thenational.ae