Dubai airport baggage handler cleared of trying to steal from passengers’ luggage

DUBAI // A baggage handler at Dubai International Airport who was accused of trying to steal from passengers’ luggage has been found not guilty.

Dubai Criminal Court was told the 22-year-old Nepalese was seen opening a passenger’s bag in April last year. When confronted by management, he promised to never repeat it but was reported to police after his employer said he was seen opening other bags.

“I was seen opening a bag and then closing it. I was then spoken to and I promised not to do it again,” the handler said.

On November 23, CCTV cameras recorded him as he opened several bags. He was reported to Dubai airport’s security.

“He confessed to me willingly that he had done the same numerous times but that he had never found anything valuable to steal, and when he was caught he was searching passengers’ luggage for an Emirates flight to Boston,” said a 25-year-old Emirati policeman.

The court was shown security camera footage of the handler opening luggage. He denied an attempted theft charge and was acquitted.

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