Briefcase containing Dh1m snatched from businessman in Dubai

Dubai - About half of the stolen amount was recovered from an African man.

Two men have been accused of snatching a businessman's briefcase that contained Dh1 million. The Court of First Instance was told that the accused, a 40-year-old Arab visitor, and his accomplice - who is on the run - snatched the briefcase from the Iranian businessman.
About half of the stolen amount -- Dh450,000 - was recovered from an African man, who is accused of being aware that the cash he possessed was stolen.
The case dates back to June 17 and was registered at Al Muraqqabat police station.
A 38-year-old Iranian businessman said during the investigation that he was near a hotel in Deira around 2.30pm. "I went to meet the first defendant at his office to strike a commercial deal. I brought Dh1 million that I kept in a briefcase with me. As I was waiting there in my car, an African man posing as a security guard told me he would take me to the defendant's office. But he suddenly snatched my briefcase and fled the scene."
Another Iranian businessman, 37, corroborated the complainant's statement. "We were waiting when the first defendant was talking to my friend on the phone as he guided him to the meeting point. The second defendant (the fugitive) asked my friend about the money and when he learned it was in the briefcase, he snatched it. We reported him to the police."
A police lieutenant told the prosecutor that they arrested the defendants at a hotel lobby in Deira. "The Arab man admitted to committing the robbery and said he had planned it along with a Turkish man (who was in Turkey). He had met the complainant at his office prior to the incident day."
A ruling will be pronounced on September 22.
mary@khaleejtimes.com 
 

• Dubai