Seven Pakistani men jailed for supermarket accountant robbery

The seven Pakistani men received sentences ranging from one year to three years for the assault, which left the victim with permanent disabilities in his arm.

DUBAI// Seven men pepper-sprayed and stabbed a supermarket accountant during the robbery of the Dh523,309 in cash he was carrying, the criminal court heard.

On October 6 last year, the Indian victim, A M, 27, was taking the store’s takings to deposit in the bank.

He was walking to his vehicle in the store’s underground car park when two of the defendants restrained him, while a third stabbed him in his right arm, which was holding the money bag. A forth defendant pepper sprayed him, before the men ran off with the money. The accountant was left with a permanent disability in his right arm.

A bystander heard victim’s screams and went to his aid, managing to write the plate number of the car he saw speeding away from the scene.

The defendants, who are all Pakistani men from the ages of 22 to 37, were traced from this information. Two of the men were arrested at Dubai International Airport as they tried to board a plane out the country.

After arrest, four of the seven men confessed to the robbery but denied the assault charge. The three others denied all charges.

The prosecution said one of defendants had worked at the supermarket as a driver, and told the others about the large quantities of cash the accountant regularly carried.

Defendant M S was believed to be the mastermind behind the robbery, persuading the others to take part because their salaries were low and this was their chance to make some good money.

Four of the men were sentenced to three years in prison, while the other three were sentenced to one year. All will be deported after completing their terms.