DUBAI // Two Bangladeshis, two Iranians and one Emirati have lost their appeal against a three-year sentence each for impersonation, confinement and burglary.
The men pretended to be policemen to gain entry to a flat and locked the tenants in the bathroom while they stole.
Despite their denial, the men, between the ages of 22 and 49, were found guilty of all charges by Dubai Criminal Court in January.
On June 28 last year at about 6pm, the men gained access to a flat in Discovery Gardens after posing as police officers.
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“One of them pushed the door violently when I opened up so I fell to the ground and then he slapped me and asked for my ID,” said a 30-year-old Bangladeshi victim, who works as a cook.
He said his flatmates were tied up with plastic ropes then locked up in the bathroom.
“We could hear them moving around the apartment for about half an hour then we heard nothing,” said the cook, adding that his Indian flatmate, a salesman, managed to untie himself and free the cook. When the pair got out of the bathroom they found their flat flooded with water.
“I found out that the men stole my four smartphones and Dh6,500 in cash from my wallet,” said the cook, who called police.
The Indian salesman said the attackers stole his smartphone and Dh600.
A police officer said they identified two men through security camera footage and the two led police to their accomplices.
On Sunday, Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the jail sentences against the defendants. They will be deported after their terms.
salamir@thenational.ae