Unemployed pair facing theft, arson charges

Dubai: Two unemployed men have been accused of stealing valuables from a flat before setting the flat on fire in an effort to destroy fingerprint evidence.

Prosecutors accused the defendants, 18-year-old Egyptian A.A. and 20-year-old Yemeni M.S., of arson and stealing valuables worth thousands of dirhams.

"Yes, Sir, I participated in the stealing but I didn't set the flat on fire… the other suspects did so," argued A.A. when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.

M.S. told Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi that he was not guilty.

The defendants are also accused of stealing a laptop, a digital camera, a video camera, four women's wristwatches, six gold bracelets, six gold earrings, five gold rings and other personal documents. A third juvenile suspect, M., has been referred to the Dubai Juvenile Court.

Prosecution records revealed that the flat — in Al Muhaisna 4 area — belonged to A.F., an Egyptian. A.F. testified that he had been on leave in Egypt when he was informed that his flat had been destroyed.

An Omani policeman testified that A.A. had confessed to the crime.

"Primary interrogation led to A.A.'s arrest. The latter testified during questioning that he and M.S. broke into the flat and stole the valuables… They returned the next day and set the flat on fire in order to [eliminate] their fingerprints. A.A. claimed that he wrote romantic phrases on the wall. Meanwhile M. set the bedroom on fire and M.S. [set] the sitting room [on fire]," the policeman said.

A verdict will be heard on February 15.