Trio pose as police to rob truck driver

dubai — Three men have gone on trial at a Dubai court accused of kidnapping a driver and robbing him of more than Dh64,000 that belonged to a diesel trading company. Public prosecution records show the three Pakistani men (all unemployed), aged between 29 and 31, made the Indian victim ride in their car after they posed as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers.

They denied in the Court of First Instance charges of kidnap, armed robbery, making criminal threats and impersonation of police officers.

The case dates back to July 25, 2013, and was reported at Al Rashidiya police station.

“I was in the industrial area of Ras Al Khor when a car with three men inside stopped next to my vehicle. They claimed they were CID officers and that I was violating the law. They made me ride in the back seat of their car and then drove to Silicon Oasis,” the victim, who works as a diesel transport truck driver, told the prosecutor.

The victim added that on the way, the defendants stole Dh64,000, which belonged to his workplace; and Dh400 and his two mobile phones after threatening him with a knife.

A policeman said they interrogated one of the defendants, who got detained by Bur Dubai police in a similar robbery case. “We had a public prosecution warrant to investigate him in connection with several robbery complaints,” the officer said. “The same accused admitted he targeted the victim with his accomplices after spotting him parking his truck in Ras Al Khor area.”

All the accused are in detention. The trial has been postponed to December 4.

mary@khaleejtimes.com