A man has been jailed after being found guilty of running a gambling den from his Al Rigga Street flat.
The 54-year-old Indian cook, identified as M.K., will have to spend three months in jail for running the gambling house and also for gambling.
Six men, who each paid Dh10 to the cook to use the den, have also been jailed. They were identified as M.S., 36, A.K., 32, M.A., 33, all visitors, P.B., 43, a driver, A.S., 47, a workers' supervisor, and S.R., 40, also a cook.
The men, all Indians, will have to spend a month in jail. Dubai public prosecution department charged the six with gambling.
Some time ago an informant told Dubai police the cook was running a gambling house from his flat and charging each player Dh10. A police team raided the place and arrested the seven men.
Inside the flat the police found a round gambling table covered with a green cloth.
There was money in front of each of the gamblers in addition to playing cards.
The police confiscated the cards and the cash that amounted to Dh4,000. Police also found a few $100 bills.
In their statement, the six suspects confessed to the charges. It was heard they gathered periodically at the flat to gamble.
They said each time they played they had to pay Dh10 each. Meanwhile, the 54-year-old cook admitted to running a gambling den from his flat. He confessed to charging each gambler Dh10.
He said he was facing financial troubles and had decided to run his flat as a gambling house to get some extra cash.
The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced him to three months in jail for running a gambling house and gambling. In the meantime, the six gamblers were each given a month's imprisonment.
A law enforcement officer, who requested anonymity, confirmed that gambling and running a gambling house was a crime punishable by law.
"It is against Sharia. Such a crime is rarely committed here. Law enforcement officers are very keen to combat any attempt at gambling or running a gambling house," he said.
A similar incident surfaced at the Dubai Courts' Department late last year when three Pakistanis were jailed for running a gambling den. Each of them received a year's imprisonment followed by deportation.
According to court reports they were given a harsh sentence because they were caught gambling during Ramadan.
The police heard there were more than Dh150,000 worth of bets placed on their green poker table.
The public prosecution department charged the trio, a 33-year-old visitor, a 41-year-old porter and a 46-year-old salesman with playing poker and running a gambling den.
In their statement, the six suspects confessed to the charges. It was heard they gathered periodically at the flat to gamble.
They said each time they played they had to pay Dh10 each.
