Dubai, UAE – Three men have been convicted of impersonating Dubai Police criminal investigations officers to carry out an armed robbery at a gold trading company’s office in the emirate.

The Dubai Criminal Court sentenced them to one year in prison each, followed by deportation, and ordered them to collectively pay a fine of Dh290,795.

The convicts, all of Pakistani nationality, were found guilty of theft, unlawful entry, and impersonating law enforcement officers to intimidate and steal from two victims at the company’s office.

Court records reveal that the defendants, along with an unidentified accomplice, orchestrated the robbery at a commercial apartment in Naif on March 7, 2024.

Planned Robbery in Naif

According to police reports, the criminals meticulously planned the heist. Three of the men entered the building and proceeded to the company’s office on the second floor, while a fourth individual remained outside to serve as a lookout.

The first victim, an Indian national, was ambushed while unlocking the office door. The attackers forcibly pushed him inside and assaulted him before falsely claiming to be criminal investigation officers. They seized his Samsung S32 Ultra phone, which contained an Indian SIM card valued at Dh3,100.

Shortly after, the second victim, also an Indian national, entered the office, unaware of the situation. The intruders allowed him inside before shutting the door behind him. They then took his iPhone 14 Pro and threatened him with consequences if he attempted to retrieve it.

Heist Yields Over Dh322,000 in Cash

The assailants proceeded to steal Dh322,000 in cash from a drawer inside the office. To cover their tracks, they also took the surveillance camera recording device before fleeing the scene.

Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department launched an immediate investigation following a report from the victims. The efforts led to the arrests of the four suspects. Upon their apprehension, officers recovered Dh34,305 from three of the defendants.

During questioning, the suspects confessed to their roles in the crime, providing details on how they divided the stolen money among themselves and their unidentified accomplice.

The first defendant admitted to receiving Dh10,000, while the second and third defendants disclosed their share was Dh20,000 each, part of which was later recovered by the police.

Court Ruling and Sentencing

Despite their confessions during the police investigation, the defendants denied all charges during the trial. However, the Dubai Criminal Court found three of them guilty and sentenced them accordingly.

They were each handed a one-year prison term, followed by deportation. The court also imposed a joint fine of Dh290,795 as compensation for the stolen funds. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional day in prison for every Dh100 owed.

The fourth suspect, accused of acting as a lookout, was found not guilty due to a lack of admissible evidence against him. Authorities are continuing efforts to track down the unidentified accomplice involved in the crime.

Dubai Police have reiterated their commitment to swiftly apprehending criminals and ensuring public safety, warning residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members