Chinese duo held in Dubai for assault, blackmail

Dubai: A Chinese victim was physically abused, robbed, blackmailed, and threatened to be killed by two Chinese suspects who were recently arrested by Dubai Police.

According to Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the criminal investigation department at Dubai Police, Naif Police Station received a report from a Chinese woman on December 25 of being robbed and physically attacked by two Chinese men.

Based on the victim's statement to the police, she was attacked by two men while walking towards her residence in Al Nakheel area at around 11pm.

She was hit on the side by one of the suspects which caused her to fall on the floor while the other suspect injured her left hand using a knife, he said.

The victim did not report the matter to the police immediately until the following day when she started getting numerous calls from an anonymous caller asking for a Dh300,000 ransom or she will be killed.

A specialised unit was formed by the criminal investigation department to arrest the suspects and protect the victim, who collaborated with the police in an undercover operation.

On October 28 the victim received a call from the suspects to finalise the venue for collecting the ransom.

The suspects changed the venue several times to eliminate chances that the police is involved in helping the woman.

An undercover police officer arrested the suspect who was talking and grabbing the suitcase filled with money from the victim, while another undercover police officer arrested the second suspect who was monitoring the area.

During the interrogation, police found that the suspects had a previous criminal record with one convicted in 2008 for assault and deported. The suspect, identified as J.L. confessed that he had forged a passport to enter the country. The other suspect confessed to assaulting the victim and robbing her wallet.

Upon searching their residence, the police found large sums of money. Both were referred to the public prosecution for further investigations.