Tourist denies drugging businessmen and stealing Dh200,000

DUBAI // A tourist who told a court he was an imam at a mosque in Mecca has denied drugging two businessmen and stealing Dh200,000.

Prosecutors said M D, 38, from Senegal, and compatriot M M, 28, met two men from Saudi Arabia at a hotel to strike a deal to buy 2,000 sheep in September last year.

The court heard that M D drugged the men’s tea before he and M M fled with the cash.

“I am an imam in Mecca, once I knew there was something wrong and against the will of God and law I left the hotel,” said M D.

Saudi T F, 42, told prosecutors he received a call from M D while in Saudi Arabia to say M M wanted to sell Somali sheep for Dh100 per head.

“We came to Dubai. It was close to Eid Adha and the price was excellent,” said T F, who went back to Saudi with his compatriot A A, 43, to arrange the money. They returned 10 days later.

T F and A A met M M and M D in a hotel room but disagreed over the price. According to A A’s statement, M D made them tea in the room and both he and T F fell asleep after drinking it.

When they woke up, they found their money and M M and M D gone, so they called the police.

M M and M D denied a charge of stealing money from the defendants at the Dubai Criminal Court.

The next hearing is set on May 10.