ABU DHABI // Five Emiratis accused of stealing a mobile phone and a pair of sunglasses said they were wrongly arrested, the Criminal Court heard on Monday.
S R was accused of breaking the glass of another car and stealing the phone and glasses.
He was said to be driving the four other defendants in his car before parking and committing the theft.
A mix of charges including stealing, not reporting a theft, and consuming illegal substances, were brought against the men. The court did not specify the charges in detail.
S R’s lawyer, Dr Abdullah Al Khazraji, said the report was incorrect. “No one accused any of the defendants, and there was not a single piece of evidence found by police against them,” he said.
“What really happened is that my client was arrested only because he has a previous record, and the remaining defendants because of their connection to him.”
Even when S R was questioned he continued to deny his connection to the alleged theft.
Only one defendant, I M, said he was driving with S R when S R parked at the port area and left the car to commit his crime.
“But his confession is valueless because it contradicts another defendant’s statement, in which it was said the car was parked on Airport Road,” Dr Al Khazraji said.
All the defendants denied the charges and requested bail. A verdict will be announced on July 1.
hdajani@thenational.ae
