DUBAI // An unemployed man and an unidentified accomplice stole money and a mobile phone from a parking attendant and crashed into a parked car after refusing to pay parking fees, a court heard on Monday.
The 27-year-old Nigerian man and his accomplice parked their car in a paid parking area in Al Muraqabbat in May last year. Two hours later they came back and tried to leave the car park when the 23-year-old attendant stopped them to pay the fee.
“They refused to pay, and the driver of the car tried to manoeuvre and exit the parking. He rammed into a parked car,” said the attendant.
The attendant then tried to call police but the duo snatched his mobile phone.
“They started punching me all over my body until I collapsed, they took my Samsung Note 5 phone and stole Dh2,500 from me and fled the parking,” said the Afghan.
Prosecutors said the defendant also saw someone who witnessed the incident trying to call police and he smashed the person’s mobile phone before fleeing the scene and crashing into another car on the main road.
“We received a report about a car that caused an accident. Once we located the car, we found a group of African men who ran away from the scene as soon as they saw the police,” said a 36-year-old police officer.
They were able to track down the suspect and apprehend him with the help of residents of the area.
At Dubai Criminal Court on Monday, the Nigerian confessed to a charge of forceful theft.
A verdict is expected on April 13.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
