Man poses as cop in UAE, robs residents

The man used a "gadget to paralyse them" before he stole their money, mobile phones and other items.

 A man has gone on trial accused of robbing people of money and other valuable items after posing as a police officer. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance heard that the Emirati man stopped people on the roads in the Capital and claimed he was an officer of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Official court documents stated that after stopping some of the victims, the man used a "gadget to paralyse them" before he stole their money, mobile phones and other items.
The Abu Dhabi Police had received a complaint a few months ago from a resident who had been robbed by unknown person in a residential area in Abu Dhabi. The victim said he was walking on the road in the evening when the defendant, who claimed to be a police officer, stopped him.
He said he showed him an ID saying he was a policeman and also asked him for his wallet. The victim said the defendant then took away his wallet containing money and drove away. 
After investigating the case, the police arrested the Emirati man. 
Further investigations revealed that the man had carried out several other robberies and assaults on other people.
Prosecutors charged him with impersonating a police officer and robbing people.
In court, the Emirati denied all charges levelled against him.
The trial was adjourned until October 17.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Abu Dhabi