Gang ‘stole millions in different currencies’ from sales executive

DUBAI // Three men and a woman are accused of stealing millions in different currencies, while 11 others are charged with possessing the stolen millions, a Dubai court heard.

Prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court that the four Nigerians stole 4.8 million Saudi riyals, Dh312,000, 45,000 Qatari riyals, 4.9 million Kuwaiti dinars and 150,000 Pakistani rupees on May 9 from a sales executive as he tried to exchange the money.

They said some of the money was given to two men, who were charged with possessing stolen money knowing it is from an illegal source, while the other defendants were charged with possessing stolen cash but not knowing its source.

The first accused, who is 31, was not present in court to face charges but his three accomplices, aged 26, 33 and 34, denied robbery charge.

The others denied knowing the cash was stolen.

Seven of them told the court they had business relations with the four Nigerians and when the latter brought the cash, the seven thought it was part of payments related to their business deals.

The 34-year-old Afghan sales executive told prosecutors that his boss handed him the money and asked him to fly to Dubai with it.

“On May 9 I took a plane to Dubai and was met by the sponsor’s driver at the airport, then both of us headed to an exchange house to convert the money to dirhams,” said the man.

While at the exchange house at about 11pm, they were attacked and assaulted by four people, one of whom was holding a meat cleaver, he said.

The thieves got away with the bag containing the millions and the two victims called police immediately. Six days later, they received a call from police to attend the station and identify the suspects.

The four suspects were arrested at their apartment in Ajman, where some of the stolen cash was found.

“One of the suspects confessed during questioning that he threw away the Pakistani money in a trash bin in Ajman while some other [money] was transferred to Nigeria upon orders from the first suspect,” testified a 26-year-old policeman, adding that the rest of the gang were arrested shortly after.

The next hearing is on November 10.