Dubai: A cleaner at one of DownTown Dubai’s most luxurious hotels has been accused of stealing Dh180,000 from an Austrian businessman and spending the ill-gotten cash on his sick father.
The 29-year-old Pakistani cleaner, M.I., was said to have entered the businessman’s room to clean before he stole the money from the safe which he claimed was unlocked in October 2014.
Prosecutors accused M.I. of stealing around Dh180,000 in US dollars and euros in different quantities and during separate occasions between October 2014 and January 2015.
The defendant was quoted admitting to prosecutors that he was in dire need to cover the medical expenses of his sick father in Pakistan.
The suspect entered a guilty plea when he showed up before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday.
With his head bowed in repentance, the suspect said before presiding judge Urfan Omar: “Yes, Sir, I stole the money … I am sorry.”
The Austrian businessman testified to prosecutors that he discovered the theft in January when he returned to his hotel room.
“I had kept the cash in the safe provided by the hotel. When I returned to my room, I was supposed to open the safe and take the cash… but I couldn’t open it. I called one of the hotel staff, and she came and opened the safe. When she did so, I discovered that thousands of US dollars and euros were missing. I did not know how much exactly I had kept in the safe… I used that safe to keep money every time I came to Dubai on a business trip,” the businessman claimed.
Meanwhile the defendant was quoted telling prosecutors that on January 5, when he went to clean the Austrian’s room, he found the safe unlocked.
“I cleaned the room and while cleaning the cupboard, I spotted the safe open and there was cash inside. I finished my work and returned home… then I remembered my sick father and decided to steal the money. I went back to the room after two days and stole $500, then closed the safe after changing the secret code. The next day I went in the evening and stole $600 and on January 12 I stole $2,900. Then I went on leave. I spent all the stolen money on my father’s medical expenses. When I returned on February 22, I was summoned by the police and, during questioning, I confessed that I had stolen the money,” M.I. was cited as confessing.
The Austrian’s lawyer is suing the defendant for Dh21,000 in temporary civil compensation to be paid against his client’s financial and moral damages. The trial continues.
