DUBAI // A gang stole gold worth Dh1.5 million after breaking into a jewellery shop in Naif, a court was told.
On April 7 this year, the four Chinese defendants, aged between 36 and 50, used tools to gain entry into the shop before stealing the jewellery.
The men appeared in Dubai Criminal Court charged with burglary, which they all denied. A fifth Chinese defendant, 45, denied a charge of possessing stolen goods.
An Emirati police officer told the court that investigations into the burglary pointed to the involvement of a Chinese man. He was arrested and told officers about the others.
“He said the raid was planned about five days before, during which they visited the Gold Souq to pick out a shop to steal from,” said the officer, adding that CCTV camera footage showed the four men breaking into the shop before fleeing with the gold jewellery.
“They were arrested in an apartment while the fifth defendant was melting down some of the gold to test it,” the officer said. Most of the jewellery was recovered.
The next hearing will be on June 28.
salamir@thenational.ae
