UAE | Crime
Lawyer of Wafi robbery convict pleads for leniency
A Serbian, currently serving a ten-year imprisonment for being involved in last year's Wafi robbery, was unaware that the four main culprits had planned to rob the Graf jewellery store, his lawyer argued on Sunday.
- By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:26 November 2, 2008
Dubai: A Serbian, currently serving a ten-year imprisonment for being involved in last year's Wafi robbery, was unaware that the four main culprits had planned to rob the Graf jewellery store, his lawyer argued on Sunday.
The 33-year-old convict, a Dubai-based company owner, didn't process visit visas for his four compatriots who burgled the jewellery store in Wafi City mall in April last year and 'didn't know about the crime and didn't even involve himself in the heist," argued lawyer Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi before the Dubai Court of Appeal.
The Dubai Court of First Instance earlier punished N.M. with a ten-year imprisonment followed by deportation for his involvement in the Dh14.7 million-armed robbery. He was also ordered to pay Dh21,000 in temporary compensation to the jewellery store.
Meanwhile, the 52-year-old Serbian visitor, M.M., was acquitted of aiding and abetting N.M. for lack of evidence.
Al Shamsi argued before the Appeal's judge: "My client is not linked to the crime...a female prosecution witness testified that she issued the visas to the four fugitives and not N.M. The Court of First Instance shouldn't have treated my client as a crime associate because he escorted the runaways to the tailor shop where they bought abayas [which they used to mask themselves during the heist] and to the hunting shop where they bought some tools...accompanying them to those shops doesn't mean aiding and abetting a crime."
Al Shamsi also said his client was questioned at the Police and the Public Prosecution unlawfully due to the absence of a Serbian language translator.
"I stress that my client is innocent...however, had he been mistaken he should be prosecuted for failing to report a crime. We are seeking the Appeal's Court for leniency as well," said Al Shamsi.
The Public Prosecution had appealed the initial verdict against N.M. and M.M. and asked for the implementation of tougher punishment.
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