Men jailed by Dubai court for setting fire to woman’s handbag

DUBAI // Two men who stole and set fire to a woman’s handbag containing her passport and money after forcing their way into her hotel room have been jailed.

The Nigerian victim called police on October 29 last year to report the men, an Emirati and a Comoros Islands passport holder, both 33, for trespassing into her hotel room and locking her and her sister in the bathroom.

“They knocked on the door and when I opened they barged in and dragged us into the bathroom,” she said. “Moments later I dared open the door and saw them leaving, with one holding my bag.”

The Emirati said he had met the woman online. He said they agreed to have sex for money and she gave him the address of a hotel in Bur Dubai.

“As I stepped in, three women appeared from nowhere and choked me, then ordered that I hand over all the cash I had,” he said. “I gave them Dh400 and then they forced me to undress and told me to have sex with one of them but I refused, so they let me go.”

The second defendant said he went to the hotel room with his friend to help him get his money back.

“A naked and drunk woman opened the door for me so I took her and the other woman there to the bathroom but I didn’t lock it,” he said.

Prosecutors said the men admitted stealing the woman’s bag and splitting the Dh1,000 they found inside before burning it.

Both denied charges of theft, trespassing and damaging property.

“She let me in, your honour. I didn’t steal her bag and I didn’t trespass but I admit I burnt the bag,” the Emirati said.

Both were found guilty and sentenced to three months in jail each.

The Comoros Islands passport holder will be deported after completing his prison term.