Ajman Court sentences nine to prison for impersonating police, stealing Dh400,000

Ajman: The Ajman Federal Court of First Instance has sentenced nine men to three years in prison for impersonating law enforcement officers and stealing more than Dh 400,000 from a man in a premeditated robbery.

The court also ordered them to pay a fine equal to the stolen amount and ruled that seven of the defendants be deported upon completion of their sentences.

The case came to light when the victim agreed to exchange Dh 400,000 for US dollars with a group of individuals. On the day of the transaction, three men of Arab nationality approached him claiming to be CID officers. They ordered him and three companions out of their vehicle and detained them beside a wall.

One of the defendants collected the group's identification cards and phones, while another appeared to coordinate by phone. During the distraction, a third man opened the vehicle and seized a bag containing the cash before all the perpetrators fled the scene.

Ajman police launched an investigation, eventually apprehending the suspects and recovering most of the stolen funds, save for Dh 63,000, which remains missing. The victim later identified several of the suspects via remote lineup.

Three eyewitnesses testified before the court. One described seeing masked men confronting the victim and his group, flashing what appeared to be official ID cards. Another said one of the accused had previously inspected the money and directed the group to the victim’s location before the theft took place.

According to court records, one of the defendants admitted in detail to his role in the plot, while others confessed to participating in the theft. Several co-defendants denied the charges and challenged the legality of their arrest and search, but the court dismissed their arguments as legally unfounded.

In its ruling, the court stated that the evidence, including confessions, eyewitness accounts, and the victim’s identification of the suspects, formed a coherent and compelling case that proved the crime was deliberate and coordinated.

The defendants were convicted of multiple charges, including impersonating public officials, unlawfully performing duties reserved for law enforcement, and orchestrating the theft of moveable property through deception and collusion.

The court sentenced all nine men to three years in prison, imposed financial penalties equal to the stolen amount, and ordered the deportation of defendants three through nine following their sentences.