Gang lures man with massage to Dubai flat, robs him of Dh40,500

Dubai - The complainant said that on the day of the incident, he needed a massage as he had a back pain.

A 21-year-old man, who lured a resident to a flat with massage services offer and then robbed him of his credit card and cash, has been charged with forcible robbery at the Dubai Court of First Instance. 
Public prosecution records show that the case dates back to June 4. The defendant, an African, lured the Arab victim to a flat where he and other accomplices (who are at large) assaulted and robbed him under duress. They robbed him of Dh500 and his credit card with which they withdrew Dh40,000 after forcing him to reveal his PIN code. The case has been registered at Al Barsha police station.
The man has been detained.
The complainant said that on the day of the incident, he needed a massage as he had a back pain. "I called a number that I had found on a website and I was given an address in Palm Jumeirah."
During investigation, the complainant recounted what he went through at the flat. "When I walked in, I asked about the woman who would give me massage. I was surprised by four men coming close to me and telling me to give them my mobile phone. I was forced to give it after they slapped me repeatedly on the face."
He would not give them his wallet and asked them to let him leave. "Four women then came and took off my shoes. I gave them my wallet in which they found Dh500 and my credit card. The men carried me to the bed where they threatened that I would be in danger if I did not reveal the card's PIN code. I felt extremely scared and revealed the codes of two cards to them," he recalled.
He was left there for two hours during which someone would beat him whenever he asked to be set free. "Later, the men and women came and told me that I was no longer in danger. They gave me back my wallet, mobile phone and my credit card.
Five minutes later I was allowed to leave," the complainant told the prosecutor.
A police sergeant said that the present complaint was part of several similar complaints they received. "Our information was that there was a gang renting a flat where they lure men to rob them of cash and bank cards after issuing threats."
After some suspects were apprehended and detained at Al Rafaa police station, the complainant was summoned there. "He identified the defendant three times among other suspects as one of the gang members who assaulted and robbed him," the sergeant said.
A ruling will be pronounced on October 19.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai