Dubai: Two Pakistanis, who were electrocuted and sustained first-degree burns while stealing a live cable belonging to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), will have to pay Dh40,000 for the damage caused.
The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday jailed the unemployed Pakistanis, 21-year-old T.A. and 30-year-old Y.R., for three months each.
Prosecutors accused the two men of trying to steal the electric cable belonging to Dewa and causing damage worth Dh40,000. When the defendants appeared before the court earlier this month, they pleaded guilty and asked for leniency.
Clemency plea
Pronouncing yesterday's judgment in courtroom four, Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad imprisoned the defendants and fined them Dh40,000.
"We are guilty. We did try to steal the electric cable but while doing so, we got electrocuted and I sustained severe body burns. Sir, look at my skin and ear, I have bad burns and disfigurement over different parts of my body… we ask the court for clemency and forgiveness," argued Y.R. before the court.
His compatriot, T.A. contended: "We confess that we are guilty… we did not know that the cable was live and that it there was electricity connected to it. We got electrocuted accidentally."
According to the arraignment sheet, prosecutors accused the defendants of using an electric chainsaw to cut the cable to steal electricty from it.
The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
