Suspects deny mugging hotel employee

Hani Bathish DUBAI // Two Ethiopian men have denied mugging an Indian man after they gave him a ride in their car. WM, 29, and MN, 39, are accused of taking Dh3,200 from their victim, FN, 44, on July 22. The victim, a hotel employee, was given Dh20,000 in cash by his boss to deposit in a bank. After waiting for a cab for 40 minutes to take him to the bank branch in Bur Dubai, a saloon car pulled up and he was offered a ride to his destination.

The defendants and other alleged accomplices, who were referred to the juvenile court, are accused of taking the cash from FN before throwing him out of the car. The defendants were identified by the victim during a police line-up. They pleaded not guilty yesterday. Sunday during an appearance before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance. [e-mail]