Workers caught stealing cables

Dubai: Two workers, who claimed they didn't collect their salaries for three months, were caught stealing electric cables.

When the Vietnamese suspects, 21-year-old N.V. and 24-year-old N.C., appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday they failed to confess or deny their charges because there was no Vietnamese language translator present.

The Public Prosecution charged the suspects with breaking a company's lock and attempting to steal cables using a special cutter.

Presiding Judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy adjourned the case until next week during which a Vietnamese language translator will be brought from the Embassy.

Records said one of the company's security guards stopped N.V. while his compatriot was arrested by the police.

The 40-year-old Indian security guard who stopped N.V. testified: "My colleague and I were suspicious when we noticed a hole in the company's gate...we found three suspects cutting electric cables and keeping them aside. We were afraid to stop them alone, so I informed the company's representative and some drivers who were standing outside and asked them to help us."

The witness said when they challenged the thieves, two of them ran away before he stopped the third and handed him over to the police.

A police first sergeant said in his statement: "The incident happened in Al Quoz industrial area...we combed the company's surrounding and arrested N.C. who was hiding nearby."

The 21-year-old suspect said in his statement that he didn't collect his salary for three months and decided to return to his country. He claimed that his compatriot suggested the idea of stealing cables before they return home.