Bogus detective sued for Dhs570,000 heist

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A bogus detective implicated in the robbery of Dhs570,000 in cash and valuables was referred to the Dubai Criminal Court on Thursday.

The unemployed Arab defendant, 44, with the help of fugitive accomplices stole Dhs551,200 cash and a Dhs1,400 iPhone belonging to the first Nigerian victim and a Dhs1,800 laptop belonging to another.

The gang also stole 14 mobiles of various brands worth Dhs14,500 in total belonging to the third one and Dhs1,000 cash belonging to the fourth one. They also tried to steal the first one’s Dhs91,100 cash but he resisted.

The defendant and the fugitives posed as CID officers and demanded to examine whether the cash and items belonged to the victims. The defendant flashed an ID as alleged proof he was from the investigations department.

Prosecutors referred an unemployed African man, 33, (the defendant’s colleague) over complicity. He was the one who directed him to the victims’ residence. The Dubai Criminal Court hearing continues on Oct.10.

On the record, a Nigerian company employee, 33 (the first victim) narrated that the company manager would hand him money to be deposited in its bank account. On Jul.22 the manager handed him Dhs551,200.

As he was supposed to deposit it the next day, he kept it inside a safe under his bed in a room he shared with the other victims. The safe also contained Dhs91,100. At around 2am the defendant and three cohorts stormed.

He flashed a card and claimed he and his cohorts were CID officers on a mission to check whether the victims had illegal items in the room. They searched and scattered the room’s contents and failed to find anything illegal.

The defendant then asked whether they had money. They said no. The defendant reiterated the question and warned that in case he and his cohorts searched and landed on it they will land them in a big criminal case.

The victim got frightened and declared he had money in a safe under his bed. He opened it for them. The defendant removed it all and demanded to know its source. The victim revealed the source and presented receipts.

The defendant posed more questions as his cohorts continued scattering the room’s contents in search for cash and valuables. He took the victim outside, claiming he was taking him to the police station to verify the source.

The gang hailed a taxi. The victim grabbed the defendant and shouted calling upon the public. The colleague arrived insisting the defendant was a detective. The defendant hurled the Dhs551, 200 inside the taxi in which his cohorts fled.