Sacked driver accused of trying to kill ex-boss in Dubai

A driver savagely attacked his former boss and left him for dead after he was fired for being lazy, a court has heard.

The Syrian, 30, is on trial at Dubai Court of First Instance accused of attempted murder, along with fleeing in the businessman’s Mercedes-Benz. He denies the charges.

Prosecutors said that the assault took place at a parking area in Al Qusais, where the victim’s educational HR firm is based, on August 10, 2014.

In court, it was claimed that the defendant waited for the Jordanian businessman, 71, for five hours before confronting him when he left work.

The driver is said to have demanded his job back and when the former boss refused, he attacked him inside his car after pulling the door open.

The businessman testified: “He used to work as driver in my company on Dhs4,000 per month.

“I fired him as he wasn’t good in his job but he was always asking for his job back and I kept refusing.”

Describing the assault in the car park, he said the man punched him in the face through the open door then tried to strangle him with a rope.

The businessman said: “When I told him ‘no’ he started beating me in the face and then put a rope around my neck, trying to strangle me.”

He said he desperately offered him Dhs2,000 to stop, before getting out of the car and fighting back.

It was then, he claims, the defendant hit him on the head several times with a metal object, knocking him to the ground and leaving him unconscious and bleeding.

The sacked driver then allegedly robbed the man and drove off with his Mercedes.

Police rushed to the scene and paramedics transferred the victim to hospital. Officers traced the suspect to Ajman and arrested him.

Despite pleading not guilty in court, police said that, when in custody, the suspect confessed that he intended to kill his ex-boss if he did not give him his job back.

The trial has been adjourned until next month, when the court will hear the defence case.