DUBAI // Six men have been sentenced to three years in jail each for stealing Dh3.6 million from two exchange house employees at knife-point.
The defendants – four from Cameroon and two from Mali, aged between 29 and 38 – contacted an employee at the exchange house in Al Muraqqabat on February 15 and asked to change US$1 million (Dh3.673m) into dirhams.
“Very few customers would approach us with this big amount. At the time we didn’t have the amount ready at the exchange house,” said an Indian employee, 30, adding he made calls to arrange for the equivalent amount in dirhams.
He and a friend met the defendants in a hotel room where one of them took out money from a bag.
“When he reached inside the bag again I was expecting another money pack but, to my surprise, he took out a knife,” the Indian said.
The defendants threatened the two men with the knife, then used tape to gag and tie them up before running off with the money as well as the victims’ mobile phones.
The men managed to untie themselves and called police from the hotel room.
Police identified the man who drove the six defendants to the hotel. He was arrested with Dh56,000 in his possession and is still awaiting sentencing.
He helped police arrest another defendant, who was caught with Dh21,000. Two other men were arrested in Al Ain on February 21 in possession of almost Dh100,000. The rest of the gang were arrested later the same day.
At Dubai Criminal Court two of the defendants admitted to an armed robbery charge, while two denied a charge of possessing stolen money. Two others were not present and were sentenced in their absence.
They will all be deported after serving their jail terms.
salamir@thenational.ae
