Two admit robbing US woman

DUBAI // Two Chinese men pleaded guilty yesterday to forcing their way into the apartment of an American woman, tying her up with duct tape and robbing her. According to prosecutors, the defendants, H W, 24, and F Y, 23, had been posing as sellers of pirated DVDs. Last Oct 12 they rang their victim's doorbell around noon offering to show her some new movies. The victim, S F, 25, told the men she was not interested and her flatmate usually bought such DVDs. She asked them to return later that evening.

S F told prosecutors the two men left but returned half an hour later, when H W asked her for a drink of water. She went to the kitchen and brought a glass of water to H W, who, after drinking it, kicked open the apartment door and grabbed S F's arms from behind, placing his other hand over her mouth. She said F Y helped H W by wrapping duct tape around her mouth and body to restrict her movements and prevent her calling for help. The defendants then ransacked the apartment, stealing notebook computers, two mobile phones, a digital camera, an iPod, a wristwatch, Dh500 (US$136) in cash, $50 in cash, two credit cards and an ATM card, before fleeing the scene.

The men presented Judge Saeed Barghouth with a signed memorandum asking the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance for leniency. The court will issue its ruling on April 14. [e-mail]