CCTV film will prove innocence, robbers tell UAE court

ABU DHABI // A pair of men who were convicted of robbery told the Court of Appeal they had video evidence that proved they were elsewhere when the crime was committed.

A M and M S, both Emirati, said they were eating at the Shaheen restaurant in the petrol station in Suweihan at 2am on June 4.

They claim that they later filled up their vehicle at the station and shopped at the supermarket at 4am.

“I have video evidence from the station’s CCTV and where we were sitting, and the petrol bill,” said A M.

The court asked why the footage was not included in the case files.

“Public prosecution asked CID to bring the videos but they ignored them,” said A M. “The request to seek the footage was made on the same day of the arrest.”

“Why do you keep your fuel bills with you?” said Chief Justice Dr Khairi Al Kabbash.

A M said it was a rented car.

“Even though, why would you keep the receipt? If you were a driver and you needed to present it to your employer, then it makes sense.”

He said he had borrowed the car from a friend of his.

“So your friend agrees to lend you his car and then you make him pay you back for the fuel that you used?” said the judge.

M S said he saw his co-defendant present the receipt to his friend.

A M said his friend always complained that he was using up the fuel so he kept the receipts to show him he was filling it up while using it.

The pair added that they kept the restaurant’s receipt as well.

“This is so strange you go to eat and then you keep the receipt?” said the judge.

The judge decided to request for the CCTV footage from the petrol station, as well as asking the policemen who arrested the men to attend the next hearing.

The case was adjourned.