Visitor jailed 3 years for stealing Rolex watch

Dubai: A visitor has been jailed for three years for forcing his way into his friend’s hotel room and stealing his Rolex wristwatch worth Dh36,000 and passport under coercion.

The 29-year-old British visitor, D.L., entered his countryman friend’s hotel room in June and stole his watch and British passport in collaboration with another suspect who remains at large. The accused identified as D.L. had pleaded not guilty.

According to Sunday’s ruling, presiding judge Mohammad Jamal ordered D.L. to pay Dh21,000 in temporary compensation to the victim.

“The accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment,” said presiding judge Jamal.

When the defendant showed up in court, he contended that he was drunk when the incident happened.

“I was with a friend when the victim allowed us into his room. He was also drunk when he complained to the police. I am not guilty,” said D.L.

Records said D.L. and another suspect, who absconded, entered the victim’s hotel room in Dubai Marina to check out the watch to buy it.

The victim testified that the incident happened shortly after he decided to sell his Rolex watch for Dh36,000.

“A Britain-based friend of mine told me over the phone that a friend [the absconding suspect] might be interested in checking the watch. He provided me with his contact number … I met him at the hotel’s lobby. We went to my room to examine the watch. I sat on the sofa and asked him to take a seat, but surprisingly he ran towards the door and opened it. D.L. came in. He spoke to me loudly and in an angry tone. He ordered me to give him the watch and so I did. Then he asked me to open the safe and so I did. He took my passport and then, before they left, D.L. said I should pay them Dh300,000 to return my passport. He sprinkled some white powder on the table and challenged me to call the police … before they left, D.L. told me that I would be in trouble because of that white powder if I dared to call the police,” he said.

Records said the victim reported the matter to the police and hotel’s security.

A police corporal said D.L. was identified from the rented car’s number plate that came up on the hotel’s surveillance cameras.

“We summoned the accused to Al Barsha police station, where he denied stealing the watch or the passport. He identified the absconding suspect as H.,” said the corporal.

Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.