6 men on trial for Dh430,000 villa heist

Suspects stole perfumes, electronics and other valuables while tenant was overseas on holiday

Six men have been accused of breaking into a villa and stealing Dh430,000 worth of valuables, electronics and perfumes while the tenant was overseas during the summer holiday.

The six Sri Lankan suspects, aged between 27 and 48, allegedly used a screwdriver to break into the Egyptian tenant’s villa in July.

Prosecutors accused five men of sneaking into the villa through a window and robbing the place.

A sixth suspect was charged with aiding and abetting the remaining suspects.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and refuted any connection to the heist when they appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the suspects stole five wristwatches worth Dh250,000, five smartphones, three tablets, jewellery sets worth Dh60,000, five perfume bottles worth Dh24,000 and five women’s purses.

The suspects broke the window using the screwdriver, sneaked into the house and stole the belongings from the bedroom.

The villa’s Egyptian tenant claimed to prosecutors that he discovered the heist when he returned from his summer holiday in July. “When I entered my villa in Al Mizhar, I discovered that thieves had broken down the bedroom door and stolen valuables,” he testified.

A police sergeant claimed to prosecutors that two of the suspects were apprehended in Sharjah shortly after the incident.

The remaining suspects were apprehended later. Some of the stolen items were recovered from the suspects, the sergeant testified to prosecutors. Prosecution records said the sixth suspect issued visit visas to three of the suspects.