Jail for duo who abducted technician

dubai — Two men, who kidnapped and blackmailed a technician for Dh100,000, have each been sentenced to five years in jail.

The suspects were found guilty of kidnapping and holding a Pakistani man against his will and threatening to kill him and his wife and chop them off for ransom.

The accused, a 39-year-old businessman and manager, also extorted Dh75,000 worth cheque from his sister, as per prosecution records.

Dubai Court of First Instance have convicted the defendants — a Swedish and an Amercian — of charges including false imprisonment, making criminal threats and blackmail, and physical assault.

The court ordered their deportation in the case that dates back to Jan. 29, 2015.

How defendants lured victim

The complainant, an advertisement technician, 35, said the Swedish man invited him over the phone to his flat in Jumeirah Village to discuss a project of holding a multicultural celebration event. There, they seized his mobile phone and laptop. Then the accused asked him about the funding he earlier discussed.

The businessman punched him and he fell down. Then his friend brought an axe with which he threatened him.

The complainant ran away to a nearby petrol station where he hid in the washroom but the pair followed him and brought him out.

They fooled him with the help of a woman accomplice (at large) to accompany them back to the flat to sort out the matter.

However, they took his clothes off there and called his wife and told her that he was injured in a car accident.

They threatened to hurt her if he did not arrange Dh200,000 for them, but all he could get was Dh6,000.

His sister later came with her husband and handed them a cheque worth Dh75,000.

The complainant’s wife said she found her husband lying down, with torture marks and crying. She also found his hair was cut.

Later, the police recovered Dh75000 cheque and the complainant’s laptop from the Swedish man’s place. The two accused may appeal the verdict.

mary@khaleejtimes.com