Abu Dhabi: The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance has sentenced an Uzbek national for five years and three months in jail for stealing Dh200,000 from a resident. The convict had allegedly followed the resident to the lift, stabbed and punched him in the face.
The court found AJ, 33, guilty of forcible theft, intentional physical attack, entering the country illegally, returning to the country after previous deportation, reported Emirates 24/7.
The court also ordered deportation of Uzbek national after he serves his jail term.
According to the records, on May 12, at around 2.30 pm, the victim MS, Indian salesman, was asked by his manager to take cash of different currencies and have them transferred into UAE dirhams.
“I took the money from the company at Al Qusais area and headed to a money exchange near my residence in Naif area. However, as the money exchange shop was closed, I decided to take the money home and to exchange it before reporting for the afternoon shift. As I stepped into the building and entered into the lift, another man followed me. I pressed the button to go to the third floor and he pressed on the second.
But the man did not get off at the second floor. When I got off at my third floor he tried to snatch the bag from my shoulder. He pulled out a knife and asked me to hand the bag over. When I resisted him, he stabbed me in the belly and hand and punched me in the face and fled with the bag,” the victim testified.
The suspect was arrested after police reviewed CCTV recordings and finger prints from the lift.
The victim identified him in an identification parade.
During interrogation, the Uzbek national confessed to stealing Dh200,000 and transferring it to his home country.