Baggage handler jailed in theft case

Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Criminal Court sentenced a baggage handler at Dubai Airport to three months in jail to be followed by deportation and fined him Dhs28,000 on charges of stealing six mobile phones worth Dhs22,000 from a passenger’s bag. The defendant sold the mobile phones at half price to buy sunglasses and personal items.

The case dates back to March last year when an Asian passenger discovered upon his arrival in his home country that six mobile phones were missing from his suitcase.

According to a policeman’s testimony, a team of detectives gathered inferences and checked the surveillance cameras to identify the suspect. The public prosecution issued a warrant to search the suspect’s house where one of the stolen mobile phones, sunglasses and other accessories were found.

On interrogation, the baggage handler confessed to having stolen the mobile phones and selling five of them to a used mobile phone store for Dhs10,000. He added that he used the amount to buy sunglasses worth Dhs5,000, a camera, a mobile phone, a wireless headset and other accessories.