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29 March 2024

Dh734,000 stolen from Land Cruiser

Published
By Eman Al Baik

Five Ethiopians allegedly broke stole Dh734,000 from a Land Cruiser after following the victim from Ajman to Dubai, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The incident took place on January 10, at around 9am, when Somalian accountant drove a Land Cruiser and headed to a bank in Ajman to collect Dh734,000 in favour for his employer.

"I took the amount in an envelope and headed to the car and put it before driving to Dubai to collect another check. I stopped at a money exchange outlet, when I heard glass crashing.

"I looked from the exchange and saw two men stealing the envelope from my car while the other were keeping watch. I rushed out but the thief ran away in a waiting Kia car. A man, who was closer to my car noted down the plate number," said the accountant AW, 31.

Incidentally, a police patrol car was parked nearby. The matter was reported and the car plate number was given to them.

MT, 56, Indian driver testified that at around 12.30pm he was in a parking lot at a exchange company waiting for a parking slot to be vacant.

"A speeding white Kia stopped in front of my car and three man got off the car while the driver stayed in. The three ran fast behind my car to the extent that one of them bumped into my car. I was surprised by their behaviour.

"Within a minute, the three returned and one of them was holding a big white envelop in his hand. They got into their car even as the doors were open.

"I suspected that they may have committed a theft, so I jotted down the car's plate number. I headed to a police patrol, which was in the area and gave them the number. A couple of minutes later a man whose car was robbed, came and informed that his money was stolen," testified the eyewitness.

Police investigated the complaint and found out that the Kia car was rented from a company in Ras Al Khaimah by BT, 32, Ethiopian who works in the same emirate.

Police also found out that BT was off from work on the day of the theft.

The car was later found in Dubai, Abu Hail area for more than two weeks and nobody approached it during that period.

Police collected fingerprints from the car and then arrested BT, 32, from a flat in Sharjah together with other four compatriots TS, 35, SS, 27, FA, 38, who were all visitors, in addition to TM, 29 who holds investor's visa.

BT admitted that the rest four were his accomplices in the crime.

The accused admitted to the theft and said that they divided the amount amongst them after stopping the car in Abu Hail area and hailed a taxi to reach their residence in Sharjah.

Police confirmed that the DNA of each of FA, 38, TS, 35, (both visitors) were found in the car.

Ten days following the theft, Naif police asked AW to approach them.

During the identification parade, the victim recognised SS and TM, whom he had seen from the exchange company.

He also told the police that he noticed them observing him while he was at the bank in Ajman.

The accused admitted to following the victim at the bank in Ajman and chasing him to Dubai, Bani Yas area where he stopped at a money exchange outlet.

The court will reconvene on May 15.