Electrical cable thief dies in fireball after explosion

Man got shock and burst into flames so accomplices fled the scene, Dubai court hears.

DUBAI // A man who tried to steal electrical cable by cutting it with scissors and a saw was electrocuted and his body burst into flames, a court heard on Sunday.

His two accomplices fled the scene after the explosion in Knowledge Village and it took two years to track one of them down, Dubai Criminal Court was told.

“People called police after hearing a loud explosion,” said a policeman, 38. “The special forces team headed to the location and found the body in the electricity room.”

In October 2015, the Pakistani accomplice was arrested but the third man remains at large.

“He confessed to taking part and said that as he and his friends started cutting the cables, a wire exploded and their friend was in flames,” the officer said. “They didn’t know what to do and ran away, leaving their friend behind.”

When police took him to the crime scene, he walked into the electricity room ahead of officers, “which clearly tells us he knew the place”, said the officer.

Police said the building was still under construction at the time of the failed robbery.

In court the accused, a 31-year-old salesman, denied a charge of attempted theft.

“I have nothing to do with this theft,” he said. A verdict is expected on February 8.