Kick 'n steal artist gets six months to cool his heels

The Dubai Criminal Court awarded six months in jail followed by deportation to the Ethiopian who kicked an Iranian trader several times and snatched from his pocked more than Dh60,000 at Naif area.

Mahmoud Shir, 28, visiting Iranian trader testified that on December 12 at around 10am he collected Dh60,138 from a textile shop in the area and put the amount in his trousers’ right side pocket.

“While I was walking, an African coming towards me on my left side kicked my left leg several times. I thought he was crazy or drunk and continued walking without giving any attention to what he did to me. Two others were walking behind him. They were Africans… I did not pay attention to what they did being busy of the crazy man’s behaviour. As the one who kicked me ran, I checked my pocket and realised that it was emptied… I ran after him calling ‘thief …thief.

“Three in civilian dress ran after him and could catch him… I learn't later that the men were CID staff and we all went to Naif Police station where I lodged a complaint. The fugitives who were walking behind the attacker had taken the money and disappeared from the scene,” he testified.

Corporal Ali Mohammed, 34, testified that while he was on duty in Naif area near Sahara Palace Hotel he heard people shouting from behind Al Ghurair Mosque. “I saw a group of people running after an African who was running towards me. I caught him with my colleagues who were in the area. The man resisted arrest and repeatedly said: “You catch me… I kill you”.

Corporal Anwar Musa’ad, 34, repeated the same testimony and said that the accused was shouting in English language while running away: “Whoever comes close to me I will stab him”.

The Dubai Prosecution accused SBL, 27, Ethiopian, businessman, and other two fugitives of stealing Dh60,138 from the victim’s pocket.

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