Trial of 'veiled woman' in money exchange robbery adjourned

The presiding judge of the Abu Dhabi criminal court had decided to postpone the hearing to enable the defence lawyer of the defendant to submit his plea.

Abu Dhabi — The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court was on Wednesday shown the toy gun that a Filipina allegedly used to threaten the employees of a money exchange with the intention of robbery last month. The accused identified the plastic gun as the one she used during the robbery bid.

The woman, who had worn a veil to avoid recognition, was arrested after she was pinned down by someone inside the exchange on Hamdan Street. The case has been adjourned to May 12, when the defence will present its case.

The defendant confessed in court that the plastic gun belonged to her and confirmed her intention to rob the money exchange. However, she said, she did not intend to hurt anyone inside the exchange.

During the last hearing of the case, the defendant admitted to the charges levelled against her, saying she resorted to the criminal act to settle her debts. She said she bought an abaya and a veil from a shop and the toy gun from a grocery store for Dh25.

She confessed that she threatened to kill the staff at the exchange if they did not hand over the money she demanded.

She also confessed that she was staying in the country illegally as her visa had expired last year.

When the judge asked her why she entered and left the exchange many times before the robbery bid, she said she went to the exchange to commit the robbery but developed cold feet. She then left, but went back again after resolving to commit the crime.

news@khaleejtimes.com