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29 March 2024

Brotherly slap sends thief back to Dubai

Picture used for illustrative purposes only. (GETTY IMAGES)

Published
By Staff

An Egyptian expatriate who stole nearly Dh9.5 million worth of jewellery from his employers in Dubai and fled the country, flew back on the same day and returned the stolen items after he was rebuked with a “slap” by his brother.

The unnamed employee of the gold shop at a hotel in Rashidiya area fled to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, where his brother was waiting for him at the airport, Emarat Al Youm Arabic language daily reported on Monday.

“At the airport, his brother gave him a slap on the face and warned that his family would disown him unless he returns the stolen items to their owners,” it said.

“A few hours later, the man returned on the same aircraft to Dubai.”

The paper quoted police as saying detectives were investigating the incident at the shop when the thief came in “with tears in his eyes.”

“The man had worked for that shop for nearly five years… he was tempted by the glitter of the gold, so he committed this act and fled the country after just one hour,” said Brigadier Khalil Al Mansouri, director of the detectives and criminal investigation department at the Dubai police.

“When he arrived in Alexandria, his brother was waiting for him… when he told him about the theft, his brother was shocked and went mad… he started shouting at him at the airport and forced him to take the next flight back to Dubai.”

The paper quoted criminal investigation chief Lt Colonel Ahmed Al Meri as saying he was surprised by the thief’s action.

“It was the first time that a man returns stolen items so soon and so big… he has been referred to the public prosecution, which could take into consideration the good act taken by him and his brother especially if the gold shop owners understand that some people cannot resist the temptation of money and jewellery.”