Gamblers mug two for refusing to join game

A gambler and his accomplice grabbed two passersby, pressed their hands on cards and robbed them while claiming they lost, a court heard on Tuesday.

The Asian defendant –a carpenter, 37grabbed an Indian painter and snatched Dhs500 from his wallet at a street in Jebel Ali around 9am on Jan.18. Similarly, he snatched Dhs1, 200 from an Indian air-conditioning technician.

Prosecutors said the accomplice –a labourer, 30- abeted both thets. The defendant confessed. The accomplice denied. The defendant said the accomplice was not with him. The Criminal Court’s ruling will be on Mar. 31.

The painter, 22, said he walked through a crowd of gamblers gathered near his residence. The defendant asked him to join the game and he refused. The defendant grabbed his arm and pressed his hand on the table

“I refused to play. He snatched Dhs500 from my wallet. It was the remaining portion of my salary. It was all that I had.

“The situation was painful,” he complained. “I had seen the accomplice encouraging him to gamble.

“As the defendant robbed me, the accomplice stood beside him taking no action. I think he was with him ater all the defendant upon arrest said they were together.”

His stolen money was recovered from the defendant.

The technician, 29, said upon stepping off a bus, gamblers called upon him to bet. He refused.

“The defendant grabbed me by the arm and told me to pay him. I also refused. He entered his hand in my pocket and snatched Dhs1, 200 which was my salary.

“He forcibly seized and pointed my hand to a losing card then told me I lost the game. The painter called the police.

“Cops arrived and arrested the defendant, and his accomplice who had stood beside him without helping me.”

His money was seized with the accomplice.