Sword gang ‘broke into Dubai flat and robbed five women’

Gang took off with Dh20,000 in cash, mobile phones and jewellery from five Filipinas in their Naif flat, prosecutors tell the Dubai court.

DUBAI // Two unemployed men broke into the apartment of five women, threatened them with swords and then robbed every valuable item they had, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Thursday morning.

The Filipina victims were in their living room on March 7 when four or five men suddenly broke open the door to their flat. Two men stood guard with the women with swords pointed at their necks while the others ransacked the flat, stealing all valuables and cash, prosecutors said.

Emirati MA, 29, and Yemeni AM, 28, are charged with armed robbery.

Prosecutors said they stole Dh19,800 in cash, US$100 (Dh367), an iPhone, a BlackBerry, three bracelets and one necklace, as well as two earrings.

Filipina victim NL, 27, said it was nearly 7pm when the men broke into the flat in Naif armed with two swords.

“Two of them took me and my flatmates to a room where they watched us and kept the swords to our necks while the others robbed the place,” she said.

NL ran into a room, locked herself in and tried to call police but the gang broke the door down and took the phone away, as well as the phones of everyone else, before continuing the robbery.

One of the gang bumped into the broken door as he left the flat, which resulted in a small cut to his hand that left a drop of blood that led to his arrest, said policeman QT, 32.

He led police to one of his accomplices while the other three that were arrested were found, during investigations, to not be involved.

The Yemeni suspect has also been found to be in the UAE illegally, after returning following a previous deportation.

A further hearing date will be set.