Six to see out prison sentences for Dh3.6m robbery in Dubai

Six men have lost their appeals against sentences for stealing Dh3.6 million at knifepoint from exchange house employees.

The robbers – four from Cameroon and two from Mali, aged between 29 and 38 – were sentenced to three years in jail by Dubai Criminal Court in May.

The men contacted an employee at the exchange house in the Muraqqabat area on February 15 and ordered the exchange of US$1 million into dirhams.

And Indian employee, 30, said that the exchange was a good deal for the business.

“We didn’t have the amount ready at the exchange house,” he said.

But he made calls to arrange for the more than Dh3.6m to be available.

Meeting in a hotel room, one of the robbers took out a money pack from a bag.

“When he reached with his hand inside the bag again I was expecting another money pack but, to my surprise, he took out a knife,” the employee said.

The men threatened him and his friend, then gagged them and tied them up.

They made off with the money and the victims’ phones.

The victims untied themselves and called police, who identified a man who dropped off the six men at the hotel.

He was arrested with Dh56,000 in his possession.

He helped police to arrest an attacker who was caught with Dh21,000. Two others were arrested in Al Ain on February 21 with nearly Dh100,000, and the others were arrested later that day.

Police said all admitted to the armed robbery.

One said he was only a driver and had been paid Dh100,000, while another said he was paid the same amount to act as a look-out.

In court two admitted to a charge of armed robbery, while two more denied a charge of possessing stolen money.

The remaining two were not present.

They will all be deported after serving their sentences.