Dubai expat jailed for robbing Dh30,000 on fake date

The defendant is accused of forceful robbery, illegal imprisonment while issuing criminal threats and unlawful use of a bank card.

A Dubai expat has been charged at the Court of First Instance after he allegedly held up a Turkish national at an apartment and robbed him under duress.

The court heard how the 22-year-old unemployed African resident - together with runaway accomplices - had set up a page online posing as a woman and lured the victim into a 'date'.

The victim arrived at the flat where the defendant and his accomplices locked him and robbed his bank card under threats of hurting and killing him. They withdrew Dh30,000 from his account.

The defendant is accused of forceful robbery, illegal imprisonment while issuing criminal threats and unlawful use of a bank card.

The incident dates back to November 7, 2017, and was reported at Al Barsha police station. The accused has been detained.

According to public prosecution records, the defendant and his accomplices - fugitives - had set up a page on social media in the name of a woman. They lured the victim into a rented flat where they tied him up, beat him and forced him to give his bank card and passcode. They fled the scene after taking the cash.

An Egyptian manager said the defendant and his accomplice rented the flat on November 7, 2017. "They submitted their passports and copies were taken of their documents," he said.

A police captain told the investigator that they moved to the scene - a hotel apartment in Tecom. "The victim, who called the police, was there and his face had injury marks. He was then taken to hospital."

During police interrogation, the victim recounted how he was held up against his will, assaulted and forcibly robbed of his bank card by three men and a woman. The trial will resume on July 16.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai