A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced a Sri Lankan expatriate to seven years in jail for killing a Nepali colleague in an inebriated condition, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday.
The court also directed him to pay QR200,000 as blood money to the kin of the victim. The convict would be deported upon completion of the sentence.
Both the defendant and the victim used to live in the same accommodation. Witnesses told the court that the defendant entered the victim’s room one day while he was drunk and a fight started between them. After being kicked out of the room, the defendant returned with a knife and, in a fit of rage, stabbed the victim several times on his neck.
Forensic reports confirmed that the death was caused by stab wounds.


Final results on Iranian melons soon: SCH
The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has denied forming a special committee to explore recent social media reports that claimed Iranian watermelons were unsuitable for human consumption.
In a statement issued yesterday, the SCH explained that its food laboratories received samples of Iranian watermelon collected by the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning from different parts of the country, consequent to the posts on social media.
These samples were subjected to lab analysis at the various units of SCH to examine if they are infected by bugs, microbes or contaminated with any chemical pollutants.
“Preliminary results of these lab tests affirmed that these melons are good. Further results will come within three days and will be announced accordingly,” the statement said.
As a precautionary measure, SCH has issued a circular to all ports in the country not to release any similar imports until samples are taken from them and tested at the labs.