2 grifters get 3 years’ jail
DUBAI: Two European nationals fell victim to a fraudulent composition deal orchestrated by an African gang. The gang proceeded to rob them of Dhs700,000, physically assault them with deadly weapons, and issue death threats.
The security teams were able to apprehend the two of the suspects and bring them to justice.
They were convicted by the Criminal Court, and sentenced to 3 years in prison, along with a fine equivalent to the amount stolen. Upon completion of their sentence, they will be deported from the country, the Court ordered.
In August 2022, the police received a report indicating that a European man was robbed, assaulted, and threatened with death in Dubai’s Jumeirah area. The perpetrators lured him to a street and stole Dhs400,000, sums of money in different currencies, a computer, and two phones.
The man stated that he had no connection with the defendants. He obtained a phone number from a friend living in Turkey and contacted one of the defendants. The friend had informed him that the owner of the number sells ‘Bitcoin’ at a lower price than what is traded in the market. Accordingly, he contacted that number and the person who answered the call informed him that he had 10 Bitcoins for sale for Dhs400,000. They agreed on the date and place of delivery.
Upon arriving at the specified place, the second defendant (female) promptly appeared a few minutes later. She inquired about his possession of the required funds for the transaction and requested that he accompany her to finalise the sale deal with her manager. A group of Africans atacked the victim while he was walking, and another group atacked a second victim inside a vehicle. Despite his atempts to resist, the victim was unable to prevent the attackers from stealing a bag containing Dhs400,000, as well as other amounts in European currency, two passports, two phones, and a computer. The attackers then fled the scene.
The investigation team successfully located the gangsters by monitoring the vehicle used in the crime. The defendants were swiftly arrested within half an hour of commiting the crime in complicity with other two, who are still at large. They were involved in stealing money from these two Europeans. The court convicted them and handed down the aforementioned verdict.