Teenager 'attacked sleeping room-mate with screwdriver and stole Dh1,500'

Algerian accused of hitting room-mate in early morning attack where he demanded Dh20.

An 18-year-old denied attacking his sleeping room-mate with a screwdriver before stealing Dh1,500 from under his pillow, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Sunday.

On April 1, the Egyptian room-mate, whose age was not given, was sleeping at a shared flat in Al Muraqqabat when he was awoken by a blow to the left eye at about 5.30am.

“I didn’t know what I was hit with and I didn’t see the defendant as he hit me but it was him who woke me up demanding that I give him Dh20,” he said.

When he was able to open his eyes, he said he saw the Algerian defendant running out of the room after throwing away the screwdriver near the door.

“Shortly after, I checked under my pillow, where I hid Dh1,500 before I slept, but I didn’t find it,” he added.

The Egyptian said that he had an argument with the defendant a few days before the incident.

“We argued because he kept moving around as we slept, which disturbed me and the rest of our room-mates but it was solved the same day,” he said.

He reported the incident to police and told him he suspected his room-mate. Police arrested the man as he tried to board a flight leaving Dubai.

He was not present in court to face charges of assault and theft on Sunday.

A verdict is expected on August 22.