DUBAI // A policeman’s defence against a theft charge backfired after the witness he begged the court to hear told judges the officer stole from him then asked for forgiveness.
The policeman was accused of stealing cash from a passenger’s wallet at Dubai International Airport when it was left at an X-ray scanner.
“Your honour, here is the passenger. I beg you to listen to him because he will tell you I’m innocent,” said the defendant, who argued and pleaded with judges at Dubai Criminal Court to listen to the man’s testimony.
The court finally agreed and allowed the Indian passenger to speak. “He stole my money then came asking me to forgive him,” said the passenger.
On July 17, the man filed a complaint with police after Dh3,500 was taken from his wallet. A police lieutenant said he saw the wallet at the X-ray machine and took it to the lost property office.
“About an hour later, the passenger came to me and said he forgot his wallet,” said the lieutenant. “It was handed to him and he told me it’s missing Dh3,500.”
The lieutenant checked CCTV footage and saw the defendant pick up the wallet, take something out and place it in his pocket.
“I questioned him and he confessed then handed me the cash,” said the lieutenant.
The defendant denied a theft charge when he appeared in court in August.
“It’s my duty to conduct inspections on passengers’ belongings and I did open his wallet as part of my job, but I did not take anything from it,” said the 24-year-old.
A verdict will be issued on December 15.
salamir@thenational.ae
