Man who stole Dh900,000 in Dubai has jail term reduced

The Ethiopian, along with two Nigerians, aged 23 and 25, was sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of forceful theft and possessing a weapon by the Dubai Criminal Court in last year.

DUBAI // A man who helped to attack two security guards with a Taser and steal Dh900,000 has had his prison sentence reduced.

The Ethiopian, 37, and two Nigerians aged 23 and 25, were each sentenced by Dubai Criminal Court to three years in jail for forceful theft and possessing a weapon.

Prosecutors said the men followed two guards from Transguard as they carried cash to LuLu Village in Al Qusais on October 13, 2014.

“It was 11am when a masked man punched me several times on the face just few metres away from the centre’s gate,” said a Ugandan guard, 28.

“There was another man who attacked my colleague with a Taser gun. They snatched the bags and ran away.” He said his colleague’s bag contained Dh900,000.

A witness reported the plate number of the getaway car, which was found abandoned in an industrial area in Dubai.

“We found the bags but they were empty. We also found two masks and a Taser,” said a police officer.

After arresting the two Nigerians, police found that they had sent home most of their share of the cash. They were charged and jailed, to be followed by deportation.

The Ethiopian appealed against his sentence, which was reduced to a year by the Court of Appeal. He will still be deported.