Picture for illustrative purposes only. DUBAI POLICE

A 48-year-old Arab man has been sentenced to three years in prison and fined Dh247,000 for his role in an armed robbery at a tourism company in Dubai’s Naif district. The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the initial ruling, which also orders the man's deportation after serving his sentence. He was found guilty of robbery, unlawful detention, and criminal conspiracy. The incident occurred in March when six masked men stormed the tourism office, restrained two staff members, and stole Dh247,000 from the company’s safe. The suspect wielded a large knife and forced the victims to cooperate, while others physically assaulted them. The man later claimed that the other five suspects—who are still at large and of African origin—coerced him into participating, having earlier stolen his documents and phone. He also said he was told to wear Emirati attire to avoid suspicion, and that the robbery was revenge for unpaid alcohol shipments. The court dismissed the claims. Dubai Police tracked and arrested the man in another emirate. His accomplices remain at large. ICA/Expat Media
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