Bootlegging murder: 15 men get 10 years in jail

An Abu Dhabi criminal court sentenced 15 Asians to 10 years in prison after they were convicted of killing another Asian during a gang fight associated with liquor trade.

The court agreed to reduce the charge against the defendants from premeditated murder to assault that led to death after the victim’s relatives accepted diya (blood money), according to local newspapers.

The court also ordered the 16 deported from the UAE after serving their jail term while another defendant was found innocent and jailed for six months on charges of liquor dealing, they said.

A bootlegging brawl between two groups resulted in the murder. The victim reportedly gathered a group of people in order to take over an area that was under the domination of another group to sell alcoholic drinks. This led to a fight among the two groups.

They used sticks and empty bottles, which led to the death of one of them.