Dubai porter gets prison term for stealing toothpaste from bag

Dubai: An airport porter has been jailed for three months after he was caught stealing toothpaste which he took from luggage that had been forgotten by passengers.

The 38-year-old Indian porter pleaded guilty of the theft at an earlier hearing at the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Announcing Wednesday's sentence, Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir said the accused, S.K., will be deported after serving his jail term.

The primary verdict is still subject to appeal within 15 days.

The accused admitted stealing toothpaste after an Emirati police first corporal caught him hiding it in his underwear.

Records cited the Emirati testifying that when he searched S.K. at the airport he found the toothpaste hidden inside his underwear. Other stolen passengers' belongings were found in his possession as well.

The Public Prosecution charged S.K., who works for a security group at Dubai International Airport, with stealing the toothpaste, a camera handle, two SIM cards and a mobile phone.

He pleaded guilty and requested clemency from Presiding Judge Mounir, saying: "I am guilty. I stole those items."