Policeman accused of stealing Dh3,500 from passenger’s wallet at airport

DUBAI // A policeman stole cash from a passenger’s wallet at Dubai International Airport after he left it at an X-ray scanner, Dubai Criminal Court was told.

The Indian passenger filed a complaint that Dh3,500 had been taken from his wallet on July 17.

A police lieutenant said he spotted the wallet after it had been left behind at the X-ray machine and took it to the lost and found office.

“About an hour later the passenger came to me and said he forgot his wallet so it was handed to him and he told me that it’s missing Dh3,500,” said the lieutenant. He said the Indian then boarded his flight.

The lieutenant said he checked CCTV footage and saw the defendant pick up the wallet, take something out and place the contents in his pocket.

“I questioned him about the incident and he confessed to me then he handed me the cash he took,” said the lieutenant.

However, the defendant denied stealing the money when he appeared in court.

“It’s my duty to conduct inspections on passengers’ belongings and I did open his wallet as part of my job, but I did not take anything from it,” said the 24-year-old who faces a theft charge.

The next hearing will be on September 22.