Spa staff subdue bogus policeman

Two men posed as CID officers to burgle a spa, hears court.

DUBAI // A bogus policeman assaulted the manager of a Dubai spa after stealing from its till, but was subdued by staff and held until the real police could arrive, the Dubai Criminal Court heard today.

Prosecutors said AM, a 25-year-old baker from Egypt, and another person who remains at large, entered the spa in Al Rifa'a on September 30 pretending to be officials from the Criminal Investigation Department [CID].

"He came in and shouted 'CID!' and asked me to gather all the staff in reception and he assigned the other person with him to keep an eye on them while he took out his wallet from his pocket and broke a drawer and took money," said JD, 52, the manager of the spa. "At this moment I realised that he was not CID so I tried to prevent him but he hit me. My wife tried to defend me but he assaulted her as well," he added.

Staff managed to subdue AM, but his accomplice was able to escape, according to court records.

AM denied the charge and was released on bail. The case was adjourned to July 12.