Passenger jailed for robbing taxi driver

Businessman who punched driver and fled with money identified using torn piece of shirt

Abusinessman, who repeatedly punched a taxi driver and stole his money, has been jailed for six months.

In the July incident, the taxi driver picked up the 34-yearold Cameroonian businessman and drove him to his destination. On reaching the destination, the taxi driver asked him to pay the fare of Dh12.

The businessman gave him a note of Dh50, but when the driver was giving him change, the businessman grabbed his money and tried to flee.

The driver gripped his shirt in an attempt to stop him, but the businessman punched him several times in the face, pulled free and ran away.

The driver retained a piece of the businessman’s shirt that was ripped off in the fracas and later gave it to police when he filed a complaint. Dubai Police apprehended the businessman based on the driver’s description. Dubai Police’s forensic examination report confirmed that the DNA from the torn piece of shirt matched that of the businessman.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted him of assaulting the driver and stealing Dh490 from him.

According to the primary ruling, he will be deported after serving his jail term. The businessman pleaded not guilty and submitted a written defence asking to be acquitted.

A police sergeant testified to prosecutors that the driver reported that he had been punched and robbed by a passenger. “The defendant was apprehended shortly after the incident. The driver identified him in the police line-up … his DNA matched those that were lifted up from the ripped off shirt,” he said.

The ruling remains subject to appeal within 12 days.