Thief hired as guard robs colleagues

A man of Pakistani origin decided to take a day off from work to rest.

Little did he realise that he would play a major role in apprehending a co-worker who was busy robbing his colleagues and housemates.

The Dubai Criminal Court heard a case of a 31-year-old Pakistani plumber, SGM, who allegedly annoyed a sleeping roommate by waking him up and pushing him out of the room and committing a theft.

The worker on leave, NAA, 24, testified: "In November, 2011, I had taken a day off. I woke up as the accused was entering and exiting the room several times. He entered the room and switched on the TV and was very annoying.

As he saw that I was awake, he asked me why I had not gone to work. He was insisting that I respond to his questions. I left my bed and went to refresh myself. As I returned to the room I saw the accused was wearing a socks in his hand and was near my roommate’s private box.

The box was open... I asked him what he was doing near the box and why he had worn socks in his hands. He replied that his hand was hurting him and that he was scared that someone may steal something from the box.

I came closer and saw a mobile phone and a camera in his hand. When I asked him why he was stealing those items, he replied by asking me not to reveal it to anyone and apologized to me.

"The next day, I learnt from other workers that many had been robbed in the recent past. I immediately suspected SGM and told my senior who informed the police,” he testified.

The employer’s marketing manager Zafar Malek, 41, Pakistani, testified that the accused had been assigned a guard's job in addition to his work following reports by workers about thefts.

“Since he is in the labour accommodation, two months before the discovery of the theft, the company assigned him to guard the camp, workers' rooms and the company’s vehicles in a bid to safeguard the belongings of the workers,” he testified.

First Policeman, Issa bin Salim, testified that the accused confessed to stealing his friends' belongings including the ATM card, mobile phone and Dh1,600.

The Court adjourned the case for verdict until December 12.

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