Trio escape extra jail time for rifle attack on Dubai villa

DUBAI // Three men jailed for a year for firing an assault rifle at a villa will not have to serve longer sentences after prosecutors failed in their appeal for more prison time.

Dubai Criminal Court convicted the Emiratis, aged between 32 and 42, of charges including issuing threats, forming a gang, damaging property, possessing an unlicensed AK-47 rifle with 34 bullets, trespassing, consuming alcohol without a licence and endangering the lives of police officers. They were found not guilty of the attempted murder of the homeowner and his family.

On January 25 last year, the men fired randomly at the house in Al Rashidiya, shot out windows and at a car owned by one of the residents but did not injure the occupants.

Prosecutors said the men attacked the home in an attempt to convince the occupant to drop charges against them in another case.

When police arrived the defendants fled. Police chased their vehicle, which swerved and hit the police car.