DUBAI // A Nigerian befriended fellow Africans newly arrived in Dubai then took them to a hotel where he drugged and robbed them, a court was told yesterday. The 40-year-old defendant, OS, admitted drugging his victim, KJ, with spiked orange juice and stealing US$10,000 (Dh37,000) from him after he fell asleep. The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance will issue its ruling in the case on April 7.
Two other similar cases are pending against the defendant, who was detained at Dubai International Airport in Sept 2008 as he was about to leave the country carrying Dh220,985 in cash. When he was stopped and asked by officers where he got the money, he became flustered and could not answer. OS was taken to Naif police station because his description matched that of someone wanted for robbing several African men after spiking their drinks.
At first the defendant denied any involvement with the crimes but later, under questioning, admitted robbing the victim KJ and two other African men. OS said he would wait for his victims at the arrivals hall of Dubai International Airport where he would pretend to be a fellow traveller, make small talk with them and convince his victims to accompany him to a hotel where they would share a room. He admitted to later drugging his victims and stealing their money.
hmbathish@thenational.ae
