Dubai court jails Pakistani man for his part in warehouse robbery

The construction worker was part of gang of men who stole Dh12,000 worth of cables from a warehouse in Jebel Ali.

DUBAI // A construction worker was jailed for a year yesterday for stealing Dh12,000 worth of electric cables from a warehouse in Jebel Ali.

The Dubai Criminal Court heard how Pakistani S B, 26, was among a gang of men who tied up a security guard, threatened him, then robbed the cables. The thief, however, was acquitted of charges of criminal complicity, restraining a man, threatening to kill him and damaging property.

Just after midnight on May 21 last year, S B and 15 other men broke into the warehouse and attacked the Pakistani guard, E K, 39.

The guard testified he was restrained and gagged, before his face was covered with a cloth. The men then threatened to chop him into pieces and bury him in the ground if he moved. They also threatened to kill him if he reported them to police.

Prosecutors say that during interrogation the construction worker admitted his role in the crime, although he later recanted his confession in court.

S B will be deported after completing his jail term.