Dubai salesman cleared of gambling charges

Court told he was only playing cards with friends

Dubai Criminal Court acquitted the salesman.

A man charged with hosting a gambling party has been acquitted.

Judges at Dubai Criminal Court were told that the Chinese salesman, 23, did not run a gambling business and was only playing cards with his friends.

On May 12, the man called the police to his apartment in International City after seven men stormed into his apartment, assaulted him and his guests, and stole Dh20,000.

He told police that the gang broke in while he was gambling with his friends.

“As the man was narrating the events of the theft, he said it happened while he and some friends were gambling,” a policeman said.

Officers searched his apartment and found 18 credit cards from international banks, five boxes of playing cards, and other devices they said were used for gambling.

The officers worked on the theft case but also referred the salesman to prosecutors for gambling.

He was then referred to Dubai Criminal Court on the charge of using his apartment for gambling activities.

The salesman denied the charge in court.

"As per law, a gambling place has to be open to all sorts of customers but investigations and evidence didn’t prove that against my client,” said Awatif Mohammed from Al Rowaad Advocates, representing the accused.

“No customers come to his apartment, it was only friends and the cash seized from my client was not the money made from gambling.”

Judges acquitted the man while theft investigations continue.