Dubai: A jobless man has been accused of conspiring with two others and forcing their way into a businessman’s residence and stealing jewellery and valuables worth Dh1 million.

The 47-year-old Sri Lankan suspect, P.S., and his two countrymen, B.D. and N.S., who remain at large, were said to have broken into the Emirati businessman’s villa and stolen gold and jewellery in August 2015.

Prosecutors accused the Sri Lankan trio of breaking and entering and stealing valuables.

P.S. pleaded not guilty when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Monday.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the suspects used a screwdriver and a crowbar to break into the Emirati’s villa while he and his family were outside the country. Then they stole gold, jewellery and other valuables worth a total of Dh1 million.

“No, I did not steal,” P.S. told presiding judge Urfan Omar.

According to records, B.D. and N.S. remain at large. The theft happened in Al Muhaisnah.

The Emirati claimed to prosecutors that his mother’s maid discovered the theft while he and his family were on holiday in Europe.

“My mother sent her maid to clean my residence and make it ready for us when we return from holiday. The maid discovered that my house had been broken into and robbed. My mother instantly sent my brother to check what had happened and what had been stolen. My brother discovered that the suspects had destroyed the safe and stolen our jewellery and valuables,” the businessman testified.

A police sergeant claimed to prosecutors that during questioning P.S. admitted that the runaway suspects flew in from Sri Lanka to burgle houses.

“The 47-year-old admitted that they had come from Sri Lanka to Dubai to break into empty houses and steal valuables. He alleged that they realised that the businessman’s house was empty after watching it for a while. The suspect further claimed that they jumped over the villa’s fence and opened the door using the screwdriver … then they used the crowbar to break the safe which they found on the first floor. P.S. was apprehended at Sharjah airport while attempting to leave the country while B.D. and N.S. absconded,” the sergeant testified.

Presiding judge Omar will hand out a judgement on November 28.