Labourers overpower burglars posing as police in Dubai

Two Emirati men conned their way into a villa, which was shared by a number of Indian and Sri Lankan labourers.

DUBAI // Two burglars who posed as police officers to gain entry to a villa were overpowered after a tussle with the six tenants living in the building, a court has heard. The unemployed Emiratis, A A, 25, and M S, 22, appeared yesterday in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance charged with attempted armed robbery and impersonating public officials. According to prosecution records, the men entered the villa, which was shared by a number of Indian and Sri Lankan labourers, on April 16.

Records show A A followed Raman Amalat, a 42-year-old cleaner, into the house at 10.30pm and rummaged through his room. Mr Amalat told prosecutors he asked A A what he was doing and A A said he was a police officer. When Mr Amalat asked AA for police identification, AA drew a knife and held it to Mr Alamat's chest, the cleaner said. Mr Amalat said he then saw another man, MS, outside the room with one of his housemates.

When AA turned to walk towards MS, Mr Amalat said he tackled AA with the help of his housemate, while the other tenants subdued MS. The housemates held the defendants captive and contacted police. A police officer who responded to the call told prosecutors he found the defendants being guarded in different areas of the house along with the items they tried to steal. MS was found sitting on the floor with jewellery scattered next to him and AA was found near the toilet alongside a knife and Dh900.

The men denied the charges and are to appear in court on October 25. @Email:[e-mail]