Dubai: Three jobless men, who carjacked and kidnapped two workers and stole their cash and valuables, lost their appeals and will be jailed for a year each.

The Pakistani trio — 27-year-old A.J., 31-year-old K.M. and 26-year-old A.S. — attacked the Indian duo in a parking lot and hijacked their vehicle and stole from them a chequebook, a camera, a gold chain and Dh1,600 in July 2013.

In May, the Dubai Court of First Instance found the trio guilty of kidnapping, carjacking, assault and theft under threat and use of physical violence. All three pleaded not guilty.

The trio appealed the primary ruling. Prosecutors also appealed the same ruling and sought longer prison terms.

When the three defendants appeared in courtroom 20, they renewed their not guilty plea and contended that they did not steal the car or kidnap the Indian workers.

They argued before the appeal court that law enforcement officers coerced them to admit a crime that they did not commit.

“We did not steal the car or kidnap those men … we were beaten and forced to confess,” A.S. told the appellate court.

Presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif upheld the primary ruling and said the defendants will be deported after serving their jail terms.

The trio attacked the workers while they were trying to park their vehicle and locked them up in the car, which they then drove from Al Safa area to Al Wasl residential area, said records.

Then they assaulted the Indians, stole their cash and belongings and drove away in their car, threatening to kill them if they called the police.

One of the workers, A.R., said the incident happened while he was parking the car while his friend went to the parking meter to buy a ticket at 10.30pm.

“My friend, J.J., went to get a parking ticket … suddenly a defendant opened my door and beat me on my head. He pushed me to the back seat. When J.J. returned, another defendant pushed him also into the seat beside me. A.J. drove my car away for around 1km. K.M. followed us on a motorcycle without any number plate. They stopped in a residential area and kicked us out of the vehicle and drove away after taking our money and some valuables,” A.R. said.

J.J. confirmed his friend’s statement and further claimed the suspects threatened to kill them if they told the police what had happened.

A policeman testified that the trio were identified as they were involved in similar cases.

“We identified the defendants, who were in custody for crimes using the same modus operandi. During questioning, they confessed that they had carjacked A.R.’s vehicle worth Dh8,000,” he claimed.

The appellate court’s ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 25 days.