Dubai: Two jobless men have been accused of using iron cutters to cut the locks of an electronics shop and stealing Dh285,000 worth of smartphones and digital devices.
The Afghan duo, 32-year-old R.M. and 26-year-old S.K., and their two countrymen, who remain at large, were said to have broken into the shop and stolen 273 smartphones and 17 digital tablets in August 2014.
Prosecutors accused R.M. and S.K. of breaking and entry and stealing.
The 32-year-old suspect entered a guilty plea when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Sunday.
Meanwhile his accomplice, S.K., pleaded not guilty and argued before presiding judge Shaikha Hamad: “I had nothing to do with that theft … I was not present.”
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the suspects and the runaways broke four locks using the iron scissors and stole 264 Samsung phones, nine iPhones and 17 tablets.
The shop’s Indian vendor claimed to prosecutors that he discovered the robbery at 10am when he went to open the shop as usual in Naif.
“When I reached the shop behind Pizza Hut, I discovered that the locks had been broken and someone had broken into the place and robbed it. I contacted my supervisor instantly and it was discovered that the thieves had stolen smartphones and digital devices worth more than Dh285.000,” he testified to prosecutors.
A police lieutenant claimed to prosecutors that primary interrogations revealed that R.M. and S.K. were involved in the theft.
“Shortly after their arrest, the two suspects admitted that they had broken into the shop and stolen tens of devices … they also claimed that the runaways participated with them in the heist. During questioning, the suspects claimed that one of the runaways handed the stolen items to a Pakistani man, who sold them in Sharjah and then they shared the profit,” the lieutenant testified to prosecutors.
A ruling will be heard on November 6.
