DUBAI // A deal involving the sale of 13 robot jockeys led to an Afghan driver being rammed by four other Afghans in a car, a court was told yesterday. The four have pleaded not guilty in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance to attempted murder and the theft of 13 jockeys. The court was told one defendant, TM, 21, bought 13 robot jockeys, worth a total of Dh7,000 (US$1,900), in Dec 2007 from AF, 27, a private chauffeur at a camel ranch in Nad al Sheba.
In February last year, impatient to be paid what he was owed, AF went to TM's office in Sharjah and took his mobile phone and car keys, telling him that if he called at the ranch that evening with the money, he would get them back. But AF told prosecutors that when he returned to the ranch that day he found that the defendant and three other men had been there earlier and stolen another 13 robot jockeys.
He said the four returned to the ranch that evening carrying knives and chased him as he ran towards a shop on the main road to call police. AF said TM and his companions pursued him in their car and ran into him, sending him flying. He landed hard on the road, suffering serious head injuries. A family member found AF lying on the road and called an ambulance. The four were arrested shortly afterwards.
The case has been adjourned to Jan 25. In 2002, the UAE became the first country to ban child jockeys from camel races. They have since been replaced with the mechanical riders. hbathish@thenational.ae
