Dubai police seize two fugitive prisoners

Dubai police arrested two dangerous Iraqi and Iranian prisoners more than a month after they escaped from jail during maintenance work, the emirate’s police commander was reported on Thursday as saying.

Lt General Dahi Khalfan Tamim said the two had been sentenced to 30 years in prison and that they both have been wanted in the UAE and their home countries on charges of armed robberies and other crimes.

“They had planned to escape more than three months ago…they had escaped before but were arrested…we are considering all possibilities in the escape operation except of course any complicity by the police,” he said.

Dubai’s deputy police commander Major General Khamis al Mazinah said the two took advantage of maintenance work inside the prison and fled.

“What helped them in the escape is that one guard forgot to shut the prison door as he waited for his friend to bring him dinner,” he said.

He said investigation showed the two had performed the escape operation without receiving help from any one else.

Quoted by Emirat Alyoum newspaper, another police officer said the Iraqi prisoner was arrested in an area close to the prison in Dubai.

“The Iranian was arrested later after he resumed his criminal activity, thinking the police have given up attempts to find him,” said Brigadier Khalil al Mansouri, director of the criminal investigations department.

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