French footballer’s appeal against sentence for Dh1m Dubai robbery rejected

DUBAI // A French footballer and his compatriot have had their final appeal against a 10-year sentence for armed robbery rejected by the Court of Cassation.

The pair, F I, 21 and K H, 39, were originally sentenced by Dubai Criminal Court for stealing Dh1 million from a money exchange house in Motor City by threatening staff with a handgun.

They took their case to the Appeals Court, which rejected it and upheld the punishment.

M A, an Emirati footballer, 32, and his brother A A, 39, were also originally charged with aiding and abetting the robbery by stealing a Chevrolet for the Frenchmen to use.

They were acquitted at the Criminal Court and the courts of appeal and cassation upheld this verdict.

But the brothers were originally convicted of smuggling a handgun from Oman to Dubai, which the Frenchmen used in the robbery.

Their Dh6,000 fine was overturned by the Court of Appeal and that verdict was upheld at the Court of Cassation.

During initial interrogations, F I confessed to all charges, saying he purchased the gun from the Emirati brothers for Dh1,500.

The footballers had previously played together for the same Dubai club in the Arabian Gulf League.

In records, F I said he decided to rob the premises because he had noticed a lack of security.

The Frenchmen met the Emirati brothers in Al Quoz area where they were handed the weapon.

“K H and I bought sports clothes, gloves and face masks for the heist,” said F I. “Meanwhile M A got the car and parked it under my residence.”

F I told the court how employees cowered under their desks and tills when they raided the money exchange.

K H held the gun and F I packed the cash into bags before they fled.

An Emirati police lieutenant testified that the getaway car was found deserted in a sandy spot in Motor City.

The Frenchmen were arrested shortly after at a hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.

A deportation order against the pair was also upheld by the court.