Dubai: A worker has been convicted of attempted suicide for taking 48 Panadol Night pills to force himself to sleep after he couldn’t do so because of an anxiety attack.
The Indian worker, R.B., believed to be in his mid-20s, was said to have been rushed to hospital suffering from an urgent medical situation on September 11 before it was discovered that he had taken four dozen Panadol Night.
When asked by policemen at the hospital, R.B. said he took the pills at once when he was at his residence.
Prosecutors charged the defendant with attempting suicide by taking the 48 pills at one time as he intended to kill himself.
“No. It is not true. I didn’t want to kill myself. I suffered constant worries and couldn’t sleep... that’s why I took them,” the suspect was heard telling the Dubai Misdemeanours Court on Monday.
“You took 48 pills at the same time just because you wanted to sleep?” the judge asked the defendant.
“Yes, Sir. I was worried and had an anxiety attack and couldn’t sleep at all. I stretched out on the bed and tried to sleep but I couldn’t. Then I went to the pharmacy and bought Panadol Night and went back home. I took all the pills to go to sleep,” replied the Indian.
Records said the defendant’s roommate called for an ambulance when he returned and found him in the state he was in.
When paramedics and doctors discovered that R.B. had taken 48 Panadol Night pills, they informed the police.
The suspect was taken into custody shortly after he was medicated and discharged from hospital.
The court fined the defendant Dh2,000.
Monday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
