One of gang of robbers who used tear gas and taser in money-exchange raid gets reduced sentence

Men, from Kyrgzstan, also used a toy gun in Dubai theft of more than Dh700,000.

DUBAI // One of four men sentenced to three years in jail for robbing a money-exchange shop after threatening its staff and customers with a toy gun and a taser had his sentence reduced.

All four denied armed robbery charges at Dubai Criminal Court last year and claimed it was a still-at-large fifth man who planned the robbery and forced them to take part after threatening them and their families.

The men, from Kyrgyzstan, also denied setting fire to the car used in the robbery, assaulting employees and clients, resisting arrest and assaulting police.

One denied stealing a car number plate and fixing it on the car used in the crime, while two others confessed to returning to the UAE after previously being deported.

However, all were found guilty of all charges and sentenced to three years in jail, after which they were to be deported. Only one appealed against the sentence and won a reduced term of a year and then deportation.

On December 13 last year at about 3.30pm they drove a BMW with a fake number plate to Al Razouki Exchange in Al Karama.

Wearing masks, they barged into the shop and used the taser gun and tear gas on employees and customers.

One man carried a backpack and collected all the money available before they fled the scene. Shortly afterwards, their car was set on fire.

Police were called and camera footage, testimonies of victims and evidence found in the car helped track down four of the gang members.

“I was busy with a money transfer for a client when the masked men barged in and sprayed all of us with tear gas and used the taser gun on some of our clients,” said a 41-year-old Indian accountant at the exchange shop. He said that one of the attackers had threatened him with a toy gun.

A 26-year-old Indian customer said: “They came in and one of them was screaming. It happened so fast – one sprayed my eyes with something burning then stunned me. I couldn’t open my eyes but I heard screams.”

Police said the men stole more than Dh700,000 and transferred some of the stolen money to their home country.

“Four arrests were made shortly after the report was made and two suspects confessed willingly and said they bought the used car for Dh12,000,” said an Emirati police captain, 33.

“When we made the arrests in Sharjah, some of them resisted CID officers fiercely and assaulted three of them.”

He confirmed that one man was still at large.