Duo jailed for attempted robbery

Dubai : Two Chinese men have been sentenced to two years in prison each for attacking a compatriot on the street and attempting to rob him of more than Dh440,000.

As per the documents presented to the Court of First Instance, the two men, both 31, and holders of visit visas, blocked the complainant's way as he walking on a street in Deira and initiated a conversation with him about whether he was a Chinese and asked about the time.

He tried to step away as he felt scared but they snatched a bag from him in which he was transporting Dh 440,000 for the general trading company he worked for.

However, a passerby managed to hold one of the accused and recover the bag from him.

The 23-year-old vendor who was attacked said that the incident happened around noon on January 4 as he was heading to deposit the money at a bank in Bani Yas Street in Naif.

He was surprised by the two men attacking him with an iron bar and beating him before making him fall down.

They snatched the bag of money and ran away.

But it was not long before a passerby could hold one of the attackers till the police arrived. The vendor identified that defendant at Naif police station later that day.

The other man was arrested while trying to flee through the Dubai International Airport.

The court ordered that both defendants be deported after completing their jail sentences.

The verdict may be appealed within 15 days.