Family 'pardons' man who killed, buried aunt in UAE desert

Relatives have agreed to take blood money, accused claims

A Filipino man who allegedly killed his aunt two years ago and buried her remains in a UAE desert told an Abu Dhabi court her family had 'pardoned' him, Khaleej Times reported.

The accused killed his aunt in Mussafah area over an unpaid 10,000-dirham loan. The deceased was employed as domestic help by an Abu Dhabi-based family.



The man buried her remains in Dubai and Ajman after killing her, according to documents. He told the court her relatives had agreed to take blood money. They were trying to prevail on an uncle of the deceased who remains unconvinced, the accused claimed.  "The family will then send a letter."

A Dubai CID deputy director told the court that the remains of the  woman were discovered in Al Warqa'a. Other body parts were retrieved from an Ajman desert.

He said the accused had been nabbed from his Abu Hail residence following the discovery. The man confessed when questioned, the official said.



The official said the man had prevailed on his aunt to get in a vehicle with him. He had then driven her to a deserted spot in Mussafah area. An argument over the owed sum had ensued after.

"He stabbed the woman multiple times till she died." He then mutilated her body in Dubai and incinerated the head and hands of the deceased. These, the official said, he then buried in Ajman.

The man has pleaded not guilty. The court will next hear the case on October 17.

This article originally appeared in Khaleej Times.