DUBAI // A couple who appealed against a five-year sentence for using a pepper spray to rob an elderly man of cash and a Rolex watch have lost their plea.
The Lebanese couple confessed and were convicted of robbery and abetting in June, but they claimed they were taking their own money back from the elderly Saudi man, which he had refused to return.
“We did not go to the man’s villa with the intent to steal,” the husband S K, 38, told the court. “We went on a visit and talked about our money, which he took. He refused to give it back so we argued and I sprayed him with chilli spray.”
He was charged with robbery and his wife, S A, 40, was charged with aiding and abetting.
Prosecutors said S K stole Dh143,000 and $11,010 (Dh40,400) in cash, as well as a golden key chain and a Rolex valued at Dh20,000, from the Saudi, A A, 75.
His wife, who lives in Dubai and knew the victim, planned the theft.
She called her husband in Lebanon and told him that the victim had a lot of money in his safe at the villa. The husband came to the UAE on March 14.
That afternoon, she sent a text message to him saying she had taken the victim out of his villa and left a door open.
“I entered the villa but was surprised to see the man,” the husband told prosecutors.
“I did not expect that he would have the power to resist since he was old but he grabbed me by my shorts, so I sprayed him with pepper, then tied his hand and legs.”
He took the man’s wallet and demanded the location of the safe and its key.
“He refused to tell me but S A had told me where to find it, so I opened it up and took the money,” he said.
Records show that he also took the victim’s Rolex before leaving.
He was arrested as he was boarding a plane back to Lebanon.
His wife returned to the villa and found the victim bleeding from the nose and bruised.
The victim’s friend then arrived and called the police after the man told him he had been robbed.
Records did not show the nature of the relationship between the woman and the victim.
Both defendants will be deported after completing their jail terms.
salamir@thenational.ae
