Two Nigerians, accused of robbing Dh 563,000 from a tailor after stalking a man and spotting him dropping the money bag at this shop, were each sentenced to three years in jail.

The two unemployed men, aged 31 and 28, got a tip from a Bangladeshi man that someone would be driving a car with more than Dh500,000 in possession in Iyaal Nasser, Al Muraqqabat. The duo waited for the man in the same area with other runaway accomplices. They saw an employee (tailor) at the shop walking out and taking the money from that driver.

They entered the shop and took the money off the counter after threatening and attacking the employee with two pairs of scissors.

The pair denied a forcible robbery charge in the Court of First Instance. However, the court convicted them and ordered their deportation after completing their jail terms.

The employee, a Bangladeshi, 36, said: "Around 4:25pm on November 24, 2016, I was at work in the shop when my friend, who works at an electronics outlet, left a bag containing a large sum of money with me until he could find a parking. He wanted to purchase mobile phones from Naif Souq."

The tailor added: "I put the bag on the counter but then I felt a blow on my neck from behind. I turned around and saw an African man holding a pair of scissors. Another African man took a pair of scissors off a table and held it to my face, trying to snatch the money bag. I was pushed, attacked and hurt with the scissors when I tried to stop them."

While one of the attackers managed to flee the scene with the money, the victim and three other men could restrain the other accused. The victim was left with scratches in his face, left leg and hands.

A police officer said the man who was in their custody admitted there were five accomplices involved in the robbery. He led the police to their flat in Al Nahda, Sharjah.

"We raided the flat and arrested the second accused around 3:30am on November 30, 2016," the police officer said.

Source: Khaleej Times