Would-be cable thief who saw friend killed in botched theft jailed for three months

In October 2013, the 31-year-old Pakistani, the victim and another unidentified man, entered an electrical room in Knowledge Village to steal electrical cables but fled after sparking a fire and explosion leaving their friend’s body behind.

DUBAI // A man who saw his accomplice killed in an explosion while trying to cut through electrical cables with a pair of scissors has been sentenced to three months in jail.

In October 2013, the 31-year-old Pakistani, the victim and an unidentified man, entered an electrical room in Knowledge Village to steal cables but fled ­after causing an explosion, leaving their friend’s body behind.

“Police were alerted after an explosion,” a policeman told Dubai Criminal Court. “The special forces team headed to the location and found a body in the electricity room.”

In October 2015, the defendant was arrested but the third man remains at large.

“He confessed to taking part and said that as he and his friends started cutting the cables, a wire exploded and their friend was in flames,” the officer said. “They didn’t know what to do and ran away.”

When police took the defendant to the crime scene he walked ahead of them into the electricity room, “which clearly tells us he knew the place”, the officer said.

Police said the building was still under construction at the time of the failed theft. The defendant, who worked as a salesman, denied attempted theft in court last month but was convicted and will be deported after his jail term.