Three men jailed in Dubai over bitcoin sale scam

Dubai - Five men were acquitted of the crime.

Three Pakistani men, who were members of a gang that barged into a flat and robbed four Chinese businessmen of Dh800,000 and other valuables, were each sentenced to one year in jail by a Dubai court on charges of robbery, illegal confinement and impersonation of police officers.
The Court of First Instance, that ruled the three accused be deported upon completion of their jail terms, cleared five other men, including three Pakistanis, a Bangladeshi and an Indian, of the same charges.
Public prosecution records show that the businessmen were lured to a meeting to strike a bitcoin purchase deal in a flat in Al Rafaa on March 29 last year. They had read an online advert about the bitcoin posted by the alleged traders.
"During the meeting, several men barged inside, posing as policemen. They tied us up and got away with Dh800,000 and other belongings after locking the door on us," one of the victims told the prosecution investigators.
During investigation, the police could track the scammers down by tracing the registration number of the car they drove on the day of the incident.
The ruling can be appealed.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai