Dubai: A suspected shoe thief on trial has pleaded guilty and expressed his regret before the Dubai Criminal Court. The verdict has been set for Dec.17.

The Nepalese suspect, RD, 27, a salesman, confessed to stealing 10 boxes of shoes worth Dhs61,100 belonging to his employer at a shop in a Dubai shopping centre until he was discovered on June 2.

He also admitted an additional charge of stealing Dhs700 belonging to a workmate, BN, 35, a Kenyan saleswoman. The Dubai Criminal Court on Thursday learnt it was part of her salary.

“I beseech the esteemed jury to hand me a lenient verdict in this case. I have learned a lesson. I lost my job and I don’t know what to do now. Please forgive me,” he urged the panel presided by Judge Al Atiyya Saad.

BN testified that while on duty on that date she had received her monthly salary of Dhs2,400. She put the Dhs700 in her wallet and placed it in her handbag, then put the remaining money inside the bag.

Four days later when she tried to check on her handbag that she usually kept in a safe inside the shop, she discovered the Dhs700 were missing from her wallet. She notified two of her workmates, A and R.

The next day while on duty, RD approached BN and asked her whether she had reported the incident to the shop’s management. She answered no.

“Shortly after, I discussed with RD and R and told them that I suspected one of them was behind the theft. I asked both to show me any money in their pockets so as to have a look at the serial number of each bill.

“Suddenly, RD looked perplexed and pretended to be disappointed as he claimed that I wanted to create problems. I went to the Jebel Ali police station and reported the incident,” narrated BN.

Yemeni corporal AS, 53, said RD confessed to stealing the shoes and the Dhs700, adding that 8 boxes of shoes were seized from under his bed at his apartment in Al Rifaa area.