UAE | Crime

Salesman denies stealing Dh50

A "hungry" salesman denied buying food with Dh50, which he had reportedly stolen from the cash register of a supermarket where he was employed, a court heard here.

  • By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
  • Published: 23:36 December 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: A "hungry" salesman denied buying food with Dh50, which he had reportedly stolen from the cash register of a supermarket where he was employed, a court heard here.

"I have been working for almost five months at the supermarket and I am fully aware that the registers are monitored by security cameras ... its impossible for me to have stolen any cash from the register," argued the 23-year-old Tunisian salesman when he defended himself before Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir of the Dubai Court of First Instance.

The suspect pleaded not guilty to stealing Dh50, as charged by the Public Prosecution.

The suspect, R.B., told the judge he did not steal anything and that a police lieutenant, who questioned him at the place where the crime took place, deceived him into a confession.

"The [police] officer deceived me and convinced me to admit [the crime], saying that if I confessed, he would plead with the supermarket management to forgive me and let me have my job back," R.B. said in his response on being asked by the judge as to why he had confessed his crime during interrogation by the Public Prosecution.

Surveillance footage

A Yemeni police sergeant, who had questioned R.B., testified that the suspect had initially denied the theft charge. "Later he confessed after we confronted him with footage from the surveillance camera ... He said he needed the money to buy food products," the sergeant said.

A ruling will be heard at the end of the month.

Mooch

Mooch ado about nothing

Mooch represents dreams, troubles of a Dubaiite

National Day wallpaper

40 years of UAE

Download commemorative wallpapers of the UAE

<i>Building a Nation</i> is both accessible enough for newcomers in the UAE to appreciate the emirates and informed enough for long-term residents to value the history and context.

Book

Gulf News' book chronicles UAE's rich history

Community Reports

More from Community Reports

UAE Journey

Video

GNTV takes us on a journey across the emirates

A day to remember two different lives

History

Gulf News Editor-in-Chief recalls the UAE of old