DUBAI // A police officer illegally detained a man and threatened to keep him in jail if he did not write him a cheque for Dh105,000, a court has heard.
S A, 25, a Saudi policeman who worked at Al Qusais Police Station, is charged alongside his friend E S, 22, an Indian.
The alleged victim, S S, 39, an Indian, told prosecutors that he was selling his shop business when E S and his father made him an offer of Dh335,000.
“They paid me Dh105,000 and promised to pay the rest once all procedures were finalised,” said S S.
A few days later, the men returned and said they had changed their mind.
“They demanded their money back, so I informed them that I had used the cash but once I sold the shop I would repay them,” said SS.
A week later, SS said he received a call from Al Qusais police station from S A, who accused him of leaving the scene of an accident.
“I told him that I had not been in any accident, but he said I must go to the station, which I did.”
S S and his partner went to the station, where he was told he was told by A S he must repay the money to E S.
The victim had no cash, so AS locked him in a detention cell with a number of other detainees.
“One hour later he came to me and asked me again when I was going to pay but when I said I had no money, he told me I could call a friend to bring me my chequebook and write him a cheque,” said SS, who was then forced to sign a cheque.
The next day he told another policeman about the station about his detention and he advised him to make a complaint against S A.
S A was not present in court on Sunday to answer charges of illegally detaining a person and extorting money. E S denied the charges of aiding and abetting S A.
A verdict is expected on November 17.
salamir@thenational.ae
