DUBAI // A married couple and another man have been arrested by police investigating the murder and Dh1.2 million robbery of a company messenger.
The victim, 21, from China, was stabbed to death in the lift of his apartment building in Naif, Deira, last Thursday afternoon.
His attacker stole Dh1.2m in cash that the courier was taking to a bank for his employer.
Police released security footage of the incident, which shows a man buying water at a grocery then walking down the corridor towards the lifts.
The victim’s body is then shown lying next to his bicycle in the lift, then the attacker is seen running away from the building.
The footage ends with a picture of the three accused with a large amount of money in front of them.
Police said they identified their main suspect, an Algerian, in less than 24 hours and arrested him in Hatta, from where he intended to escape to Oman with Dh200,000.
“He admitted to killing the Chinese man and said he had been monitoring the messenger’s movement to and from the bank for three days,” said the Dubai Police chief, Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina.
The arrested man and his wife had been staying at a hotel in Dubai. She was detained at Dubai International Airport as she tried to leave with more than Dh100,000.
Police said she admitted that her husband gave her the money and told her to deliver Dh713,000 to the other man, also Algerian, who was arrested at his company on Al Maktoum Road.
Dubai CID chief Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri said the victim’s employer told police the messenger had worked with him for almost a year.
Gen Al Mansouri said the boss had dropped off the money at the messenger’s flat to be taken to the bank, but later became concerned when his employee did not answer his phone.
All three who were detained have been referred to public prosecution.
Gen Al Muzeina offered his condolences to the victim’s family, who are expected to arrive in Dubai in the next couple of days.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
