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Dubai: Law enforcement officers have warned the public against gangs, whose modus operandi is out of the movies: they trip their victims, grab their money and run.
A judge who recently sentenced an Ethiopian visitor to one year in jail for tripping an Indian accountant and grabbing Dh91,000 with the help of a fugitive suspect, spoke to Gulf News on Tuesday on condition of anonymity: "We have noticed a slight increase in such crimes... the gangs prey on accountants, cashiers and businessmen.
The public must be vigilant when carrying large amounts of cash in the street. It's advisable they don't do so, but I understand that certain jobs require the person to carry cash in a bag or in his pockets, especially employees of exchange houses."
Modus operandi
Presiding Judge Saeed Salem Bin Sarm of the Dubai Court of First Instance chamber nine looked into four theft cases in which the same modus operandi was used by five Ethiopian suspects.
In the first case, the Public Prosecution charged 35-year-old A.D. along with his compatriot who escaped with pushing a 65-year-old American businessman to the floor and stealing Dh44,000. Bystanders chased A.D. and apprehended him, but the other suspect disappeared. A.D. denied the charges.
In the second case, a 35-year-old visitor, S.M. faced the same charge, along with his compatriot who also escaped, after pushing a 45-year-old Indian, A.S., and grabbing Dh500,000. The suspects took off in a car. S.M. confessed to his charges.
A 29-year-old Ethiopian visitor, K.J., and his 28-year-old compatriot F.S. denied assaulting a 43-year-old Bangladeshi servant and stealing Dh2,570 in the third case.
Denial
They pleaded not guilty and claimed that they don't know the victim and they knew nothing about the crime.
In the fourth case, a 35-year-old Ethiopian, M.K. was charged, along with his compatriot who escaped, with assaulting and tripping an Asian accountant and stealing Dh18,000. The suspect denied the charges and claimed he didn't know the victim and never hit anyone during his visit to Dubai.
The judge told Gulf News: "Thanks to the police and public prosecution who have been successfully curtailing this problem and tailing those suspects... I call on the public not to carry money while walking in the streets."
Punishment: Rape charges dropped
A court dropped rape charges against a corporal and a policeman of having had consensual sex with a drunken woman and reduced their life sentence to two years in jail.
The Dubai Court of Appeal overturned the punishment of the two policemen, 25-year-old Yemeni A.S. and 23-year-old Emirati S.M., from 25 years in jail to two years.
Defence lawyer Saeed Al Ghailani, of Saeed Al Ghailani Advocates and Legal Consultants argued: "The two men didn't rape the girl... they had consensual sex with her and she collected money for what happened. The incident happened when she was returning home from a bar where she got drunk. Besides she waived her rape complaint."
The Dubai Court of First Instance imposed a life sentence. The Public Prosecution charged them with scaring the Uzbek woman with their uniform and having sex with her against her will between the second and third floor of the building where she lived. A.S. alone was charged with unlawfully searching the woman.
The duo earlier claimed that they "had consensual sex" with the woman, identified as O.K.
The Uzbek victim said she was afraid of them and agreed to have sex after they took her purse.
She testified before the public prosecution: "I was walking back home at about 3.30am. I saw the suspects heading towards me, so I got scared because I was drunk and had no residency papers and ran away."
Do you know anyone who was robbed? What is the most unique con story that you have heard of? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com or fill in the form below to send your comments.
Your comments
Dubai is the safest city! We don't have crime except few minor cases.
Alex
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 15:34
It happened with my dad at 1 am, but God saved his 30,000 Dhs cash which the suspect could not grab, but still he managed to steel 1500 Dhs which was in the other envelope. Twp weeks after this incident, my dad's mobile was stolen from his car in Faisal mosque's parking.
Muskaan
Ajman,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 15:25
I was born 27 years ago in this country and lived here ever since. I remember leaving our villa's gate open and the main doors unlocked. Things have changed a lot since then.
Habeeb
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 13:16
Thieves have been tripping and robbing people almost everyday in Naif road area for many months. And they always manage to get away with large sum of money. I have also been a victim to this menace .
Rajesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:55
My two sons aged 8 and 10 were robbed for a mere 20 Dirham's in Al Mariah in Abu Dhabi. This is going on since two to three years where older boys surround them and remove whatever is in their pockets. They don't care even for the elders, so where is the CID police who can do their jobs in civil clothes. This is everyday business especially in the bowling centres and cyber cafes.
Ann
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:53
I know at least 6 individuals who have been robbed by a man disguised as a penguin. Strange but TRUE!
mark
Birmingham,UK
Posted: May 14, 2008, 11:55
I had a friend who was travelling from Dubai for to Kish Island. When he was going to the airport he found 500 Dhs on the street so he picked it up and placed it in his wallet. Then suddenly 2 guys approached him and asked about the money he picked up on the street, and they robbed him along with his Dhs2,000 in his pocket.
Ken
RAK,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 09:33
I personally know at least 4 people, who have been robbed by impersonators. None of these rogues have ever been caught.
Stanley
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 14, 2008, 09:18
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