Money exchange robbery suspect arrested

Dubai: Police captured a suspected African national for his involvement in an armed robbery of Belhasa Global Money Exchange house recently in Al Ghusais.

The suspect broke into the money exchange house and threatened its employees with a rifle. He managed to rob Dh27,000 in the process.

Upon intensive investigations, the criminal investigation department was able to identify the criminal and the places he frequented as well as verify his plans to flee from one of the UAE airports to his home country, said Colonel Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, head of the criminal investigation department.

The suspect was caught yesterday morning as he was about to flee the country from Sharjah Airport with $6,000 (Dh22,020) and five mobile phones in his possession.

According to the police report, he confessed to planning for the armed robbery by buying a rifle from a shop selling hunting equipment in November and bought another rifle in December using his friend's credit card.

The suspect from Uganda said he monitored the money exchange store until the day of the robbery.

He terrorised the employees with the rifle asking them to provide him with all the money they possessed in the store. According to police he then took a taxi cab heading to his residence.

Upon returning to his residence, the suspect disposed different parts of the rifle in a garbage can before heading to Al Naif market to buy a collection of mobile phones and an air ticket to his home country, and exchanged the remaining cash to US dollars.

All employees present on the day of the incident identified the suspect, Dubai police said.