Man lands in prison for abduction

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A man who posed as a woman to ensnare a defaulter’s brother into a kidnap trap and demand Dhs1m must serve his one-year jail term, a court upheld. The European defendant –a visitor, 36, lured the Indian victim from abroad and confined him to a hotel room in Dubai from Jun.3 to Jun.4.2018. He vowed to kill him unless his brother repaid or forfeited with a property.

He tried, by means of death threats, to force the brother to pay 20 million Indian rupees (Dhs1m) or register a realty property in his name but the bid fell flat after someone tipped off Al Qusais Police Station. He denied the charges at the Dubai Criminal Court. Prosecutors sought a strict penalty. The court sentenced him to one year in jail to be followed by deportation. The Dubai Appeals Court has upheld the decision.

In police and prosecution records, the victim – a visitor, 30 – narrated that a woman (the defendant in disguise) befriended him on social media and offered to find him a job at one of the companies in the UAE.

He welcomed the offer. The ‘woman’ processed his visa and ticket.

Upon arrival at the Dubai International Airport, the defendant received him and identified himself as an agent of the company in question.

The defendant took him to the hotel where he rented a room. He confined him and told him he would not let go of him until his brother paid money he owed him or registered a piece of land or a property in his name.

“The defendant threatened to kill me if my brother failed. He got my phone, contacted my brother and told him about it. My brother notified his brother-in-law who alerted the police,” explained the victim.

An Emirati lieutenant said that upon receipt of information police identified the defendant, traced and arrested him at the hotel reception.

He confessed and took police officers to the room where the victim was.