4 men on trial over Dh290,000 phone theft

Dubai: Four jobless men have been accused of breaking into a mobile phone store after midnight and stealing iPhones and Samsung phones worth Dh290,000.

The four Afghan men, R.M., M.A., Q.Z. and N.S., were said to have used iron scissors to break the locks of the store in Freij Al Marar and stolen 200 smart devices in October 2014.

Prosecutors accused the four of theft.

The suspects pleaded not guilty when they defended themselves before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.

An Indian businessman claimed to prosecutors that the theft happened after his cousin closed the store at 1.30am.

“When we opened the store the next day at 10am, we discovered that the locks had been broken. A quick inventory revealed that the thieves had stolen 200 smartphones. Upon checking surveillance cameras, we discovered that five men had broken into the shop while two others stayed outside watching the area,” the businessman testified to prosecutors.

A police lieutenant testified to prosecutors that the four suspects were apprehended in Ras Al Khaimah for their involvement in a similar theft.

“The other theft was carried out using the same modus operandi … RAK Police referred the quartet to us. During questioning, R.M. admitted that their countryman, J., masterminded the theft and that seven suspects were involved in the heist. He alleged that J. had visited the store earlier and studied the location before he masterminded the plan of breaking into the place and stealing the mobiles. R.M. also claimed that J. had promised to pay each suspect Dh10,000 following the heist … but he did not get his money since he was apprehended,” the lieutenant claimed to prosecutors.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal will hand out a ruling on December 13.