Men accused of stealing Dh1.2m worth of jewellery

Two men are accused of stealing jewellery worth Dh1.2 million from a villa in Umm Suqeim, hiding it in luggage and flying it out of the country.

Prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court that the robbery was discovered by the villa’s owner on September 15, about 5pm.

“We got into the house,” said an Emirati woman, 31, the villa owner. “My sister went first and she immediately told me that the house was in a mess.

“I rushed and checked everything, then found out that someone had broken into my safe and stolen all of my valuables, gold and diamonds.”

She said the men broke many items in the house, causing damage of up to Dh30,000.

Police said that they arrested one of the defendants on September 25.

“The 32-year-old Chinese defendant admitted the robbery and said that his countryman, aged 22, had taken the stolen valuables, hid them in his luggage and flew back to China to sell them there,” an officer said.

He said that during questioning, the accused said they planned the robbery and carried it out on the night of September 14.

“He told us they picked the villa after making sure its owners were not there,” the officer said. “Then after midnight they climbed the wall and broke into the house.”

He said the men did not find anything to steal at first but one noticed the safe in a wardrobe, which they forced open.

The defendants denied charges of armed robbery, trespassing and causing damage.

A verdict in the case is expected on April 22.