Dubai An assistant technician was jailed for six months for stealing 30kg of gold dust worth Dh4 million from a jewellery shop where he was employed.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 33-year-old Filipino defendant, R.R., of stealing 30kg of gold dust.

"The accused will be deported following the completion of his jail term," said Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad Monday.

According to the arraignment sheet, R.R. is said to have abused his position at the jewellery store and stolen the gold dust.

"I stole the gold dust, but the amount is much more less than what is mentioned in the records," said R.R. when he defended himself.

Gold dust found missing

The jewellery store's Sudanese general manager said the store discovered that nearly 30kg of gold dust was found missing following an inventory.

"We discovered later that R.R. stole the gold dust and hid it in his lunch box. He then smuggled it out of the store without anyone noticing him. We reported the matter to the police. During questioning, R.R. confessed to me in front of the investigating officer that he stole the gold dust," the general manager said.

An Emirati policeman testified that a jeweller reported the police that a Filipino man sold them stolen gold.

The primary verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.