Dubai Two men, who tried to steal Dh250,000 from a clerk after he had just withdrawn money from a bank, have been jailed for two years each.
In the case dating back to August, the Ethiopian suspects, 32-year-old M.B. and 26-year-old A.A., followed the Indian victim after he left the bank in Bur Dubai carrying the money in an envelope.
The Dubai Court of First Instance found them guilty of assaulting the clerk in an elevator and corridor of a building he entered in their attempt to steal the money.
They were also convicted of beating an Indian worker who rushed to the victim’s aid.
A.A. admitted that he tried to steal the money, but denied beating the worker.
M.B. entered a not guilty plea.
Presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat said the accused will be deported after serving their jail terms.
The clerk, B.S., said: “I reached the company’s building and entered the lift. The defendants came in behind me and told me that they were going up to the second floor. The lift door opened at the mezzanine floor and, once I walked out, they followed me. When I tried to tell them that it was not the right floor, one of them grabbed my neck while the other took the envelope. I tried to prevent them, but they stopped me and ran across the corridor and disappeared inside an office. A worker, who works for a neighbouring office, rushed out when he heard me shouting. The defendants appeared again and jumped into the lift and went down.”
The worker testified that he went down the stairs quickly to catch up with the culprits. “One of them left the building while I restrained the one who had the money although he punched me. Neighbours helped me keep hold of the defendant until the police came,” claimed the worker.
Thursday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
