Former national football coach cleared of armed robbery

A former coach of the national football team was cleared of taking part in a Dh245,000 armed robbery at an Al Quoz warehouse.

DUBAI // A former coach of the national football team was cleared yesterday of taking part in a Dh245,000 (US$66,000) armed robbery at an Al Quoz warehouse. PC, 43, was acquitted at the Dubai Court of Appeal, along with AT, 45, an Italian business manager, TB, 48, a Belgian, and their driver, RI, a 40-year-old Filipino. They had denied the charges. PC coached the national football team for more than five years. According to the UAE Football Association, he joined during the era of coach Bruno Metsu, and worked with the Gulf Cup-winning team in 2007.

The four were accused of breaking into a luxury car warehouse in Jebel Ali on June 22 last year. The prosecution claimed that they broke a lock to get into the warehouse, and stole a computer and safe containing Dh245,000. PC said they were arrested after contacting police to report the break-in. His co-defendants told the court they were in business with the owners of the warehouse, who had maliciously reported them to the police.

The defendants were earlier acquitted of trespassing, breaking and entering and armed robbery by the Dubai Court of Misdemeanours on January 13. They were each fined Dh1,000 for another offence. The appeal court upheld that verdict. @Email:[e-mail]