- Monitor Exclusive
- Malayali Hotlier Fatally Stabs Arab Sponsor
- The Crown Hotel near Sitco office near Sultan Qaboos Mosq Ruwi, Mucat (Click picture for expanded view and more pictures)
MUSCAT -July 17, 2003 In an unprecedented crime, a Malayali Hotelier has fatally stabbed his Arab sponsor apparently due to some disputes over the management of a middle class restaurant here. Bernard (or Fernandes), a Malayali from Wayanad district who has been running the Crown Restaurant and Crown Cafeteria adjacent to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque near SITCO and Gulf Transport Company, has stabbed his Omani sponsor early morning and absconded from the scene. A Keralite Muslim lady, the cashier of the restaurant and wife of Francis, is taken to police custody. The condition of the Omani sponsor is learned to be serious. The lady has got some minor injuries and blood could be spotted inside the restaurant and surrounding areas. According to the Malayali lady's version of the incident, the Arab had allegedly tried to assault her and Francis stabbed him in revenge.
Even though the sponsor who was trying to prevent the Keralite from opening the restaurant early morning sustained serious injuries. He was taken to the hospital by the police and is being treated at a government hospital. His condition is said to be serious The police have taken some of the hotel staff including the lady cashier into custody. The Muslim lady, learned to be the wife of the absconding hotelier, is also in police custody. The restaurant which normally opens early morning was getting ready for the days business when the dispute erupted.
"The sponsor came and asked Francis to close the restaurant. However, since he had prepared all food items and customers were coming in, he refused to obey the sponsors order. Francis has been running the hotel for the last several months, paying a monthly remuneration to the Arab sponsor," said sources. Apparently Francis owed some money to the sponsor and there was some other dispute.
It is learned that Francis paid the Arab sponsor good amount (said to be RO 4,500) for running the hotel and he has been demanding money for taking visas for the company staff etc. The sponsor was demanding more money and trying to take control of the hotel, which was running reasonably well. Another theory is also floating around about the lady cashier's role in the whole episode. Since we don't have more information, more on this will be reported later.. Watch this space for more.
Ownership dispute of small and medium business enterprises is a common reason for dispute. This is one of the rare crimes in which a Keralite has stabbed an Omani sponsor. Normally the peace loving Arabs maintain cordial relationship with the expatriates. Recently there was another stabbing incident in the Arab World Restaurant in which a Keralite was killed. The multiple murder in a Nizwa Bakery had created a sensation among the expatriate community.
keralamonitor.com
Crime Report -September 14, 2002.
Indian Stabbed to Death in Muscat
An Indian Citizen from Badkal in Karnataka has been stabbed to death by another Indian citizen from the same area following a serious quarrel over some personal and family related matters. It is leaned that the Indian who was seriously injured in the stabbing case was rushed to the hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries one day after the attack. The culprit has been absconding since the crime on Thursday . It is also learned that investigation is progressing and the crime happened in the terrace of a Middle Class apartment in a busy market place in Muscat. More