Jail for man who tried to snatch $9,000

A 30-year-old visitor who tried to pickpocket $9,000 (Dh33,056) from a tourist landed behind prison bars after being chased by a group of passing pedestrians.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the Ethiopian, identified as E.K., to three months in jail. He will be deported after serving his sentence.

According to court reports a Russian tourist, identified as I.C., was walking down Al Musalla Road a few weeks ago.

The Ethiopian forcefully bumped into him and the tourist realised he was trying to snatch the money in his left pocket. He began shouting "Thief, thief" and started chasing the 30-year-old, who in turn started running.

A few bystanders chased him and managed to detain him.

The Russian called the police who took the suspect in for questioning.

In his statement E.K. denied the charges of attempted to pickpocket $9,000 and said he did not know the victim. He claimed he had started running because the bystanders had started chasing him.

However, the victim identified the suspect at the police line-up.