DUBAI // Two men accused of beating up and robbing a 67-year-old in the street said they only fought with him after he tried to sexually assault one of them.
On December 23 last year the two Pakistanis, aged 21 and 32, attacked their compatriot after one of them pretended he knew the old man and shook his hand while the other struck him on the head with a stick, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
They stole the victim’s wallet containing Dh1,200 in cash and an old mobile phone worth Dh30 in the incident at around 9pm in Al Satwa.
Both men denied a charge of forceful theft in court and said they only fought with the old man. “We didn’t steal anything,” they told judges.
“I was walking when one man approached me to shake my hand, when I did I suddenly felt a blow to my head and fell to the ground then the men started kicking me all over my body,” said the victim, adding that he felt a hand in his pocket taking his wallet and phone.
He remained on the floor for few minutes before managing to stand up and walk home where he used a friend’s phone to call police.
The defendants were arrested later that evening.
“During questioning the 21-year-old told me that he assaulted and stole from the old man only because the man tried to sexually abuse him,” said an Emirati policeman.
A verdict is expected on May 17.
salamir@thenational.ae
