Yamadayev killers get life

Dubai Criminal Court yesterday sentenced two men to life terms, or 25 years, in prison for aiding and abetting the assassination of Chechen leader Sulim Yamadayev in Dubai last year, the Dubai Government Media Office has announced.

The court also ordered the deportation of the two convicts, MTD (Iranian) and MJA (Tajik), after serving their sentences.

Yamadayev was a prominent foe of the Kremlin-backed Chechen president, Ramzan Kadyrov, and was one of Kadyrov's top commanders until he fled Chechnya in 2008. He was shot dead in March last year in the underground car park of an apartment block in Dubai where he had been staying for some months.

The Public Prosecution had referred MTD – said to be a former aide of Kadyrov – and businessman MJA to court for killing Yamadayev. The Public Prosecution said, however, it had suspended investigation of seven other defendants who are Russian nationals because they were not arrested.

Dubai Police Chief, Dahi Khalfan Tamim, had said immediately after the assassination that it was a mere settlement of accounts in the struggle under way in the Chechen Republic. Dubai Police have also pointed the finger at a close advisor to Kadyrov, former deputy prime minister Adam Delimkhanov, of masterminding the assassination. Delimkhanov has denied involvement. Russian analysts said Yamadayev's death removed one of the last remaining powerful opponents of Kadyrov's increasingly strong control over Chechnya.

MTD was accused of monitoring Yamadayev from his arrival at Dubai airport to his house, and providing his address and the murder weapon to the assassins. Prosecutors said MJA also monitored Yamadayev. MTD's lawyer said he would appeal. The defendants can challenge the sentence before the Court of Appeal within 15 days.

Yamadayev fought against Russia in the first Chechen war of 1994-96. After changing sides to join Kremlin man Kadyrov, he became the commander of the Vostok battalion, former rebels who played a key role in subduing armed resistance to Russian rule. In 2005 he was named a "Hero of Russia". (With inputs from Reuters and Wam)

Human trafficking case

Dubai Criminal Court is hearing the case of a woman and three men, all Bangladeshis, accused of running a racket of bringing girls over to the UAE to push them into prostitution.

The defendants are FM (26, maid), MA (35, salesman), MH (35, watchman) and MA (27, salesman).

The Public Prosecution has accused the four of human trafficking and said they brought over a 20-year-old Bangladeshi woman, whose name was also given as MA, claiming she was going to work as a maid. The victim said FM tried to force her to have sex with an unknown person. The case continues.

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