More than 35 arrested in Bur Dubai gambling den raid

Officers burst into the villa in Satwa at about 3am on November 8 last year to find the 35 men in a gambling den.

DUBAI // Riot police arrested more than 35 men during a raid on a gambling den in Bur Dubai, a court heard today.

Officers burst into the villa in Satwa at about 3am on November 8 last year to find the men gathered in two rooms - but could not find the gambling paraphernalia, alcohol or money they expected.

However, under interrogation, one of the men, BH, 23, from Vietnam, told prosecutors that two of his compatriots were using two of the villa's eight rooms to run a gambling centre.

He said the two men would bring gambling paraphernalia with them and charge others Dh30 for entry. He said a popular game involved four groups of eight people.

According to prosecution records each person in a group would pay Dh5 for one game, and the winning group would receive Dh300, with the rest of the money going to the two men in charge.

In court the man denied aiding and abetting the two men to run a gambling centre and also denied a charge of gambling.

He told prosecutors he would help collect money from the customers, but received no pay in return.

A verdict is expected on January 30.