UAE | Crime
Allow me to prove onyx is bulletproof, suspect says
An imprisoned precious stone dealer has asked a court to allow him to 'challenge the world' to prove that an onyx, which he promoted for Dh1.8 billion, is bulletproof.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:41 March 18, 2008
Dubai: An imprisoned precious stone dealer has asked a court to allow him to 'challenge the world' to prove that an onyx, which he promoted for Dh1.8 billion, is bulletproof.
"I am willing to prove to the world that it's a bulletproof onyx stone... I am ready to face a death sentence if that's what will take me to prove that the stone is doubtlessly bulletproof... I didn't con anybody's money, but the police tricked me and filed a malicious case against me," the 52-year-old Yemeni dealer, Q.M., told the Dubai Appeals Court on Monday.
Speaking in a challenging tone before the judge, the Yemeni said: "I ask the court to try the stone in front of the whole world."
The Court of Misdemeanour earlier sentenced him to six months in jail followed by deportation after he was found guilty of attempted swindling.
He has denied attempted swindling and trying to con people by posting a newspaper advertisement in which he promoted the bulletproof onyx stone for Dh1.8 billion, as charged by the Public Prosecution.
Defence lawyer Saeed Al Ghailani, of Saeed Al Ghailani Advocates and Legal Consultants, asked the Appeal's Court judge to assign a physics expert or Dubai police's criminal laboratory to test the stone and decide whether it contains any electromagnetic powers which deviates the bullet before it hits the stone wearer. Al Ghailani also asked the court to acquit his client (Q.M.) and dismiss the uncorroborated evidence.
Tried on sheep
During the hearing, the accused said the stone proved bulletproof when he tried it four times on a sheep. "I had a stall at Global Village where I displayed precious stones, including the onyx. I asked the police to try the stone before confiscating it and arresting me. They refused. I brought it with me from Yemen." Al Ghailani said the Court of Misdemeanour denied his client the right to present witnesses and to try the stone.
"Q.M. is innocent... he didn't even attempt to con or swindle anyone because when he promoted the onyx, he suggested that the interested customer could deposit the money with the police and wait for onyx's trial to prove whether is it bullet-proof or not," argued the lawyer.
The accused told the judge that he's been jailed for almost three months for a crime he didn't commit. "My daughter has become mentally ill because I've been away from her and my wife... I didn't swindle or cheat anyone," he said.
More from UAE Crime
More from UAE
Community Reports
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
Latest news
- Dubai Police to public: Help identify dead man
- Chance of fault on Metro: One per 4 million kms
- Al Ain Zoo launches evening visiting hours
- Emirati students not ready for university
- Recycled gravel to be used for paving roads
- UAE Interact available on smartphones
- Green ambassadors blaze the nature trail
- UAE, UK explore joint cooperation in education
- Dubai Police help foil cocaine smuggling bid
- Carpenter charged with killing friend
- Job scam victim clears name
- Dubai crime, accident rates drop
- Parents should be more vigilant
- ICT forum: What will the future look like?
- Huge rush at ID centres as deadline looms
