Jail for Dubai labourer who robbed man, 75, after giving him a lift

DUBAI // A labourer who offered a 75-year-old man a lift home from the mosque but kidnapped him, robbed him and hit him with a metal bar instead has been sentenced to a year in prison.

The 75-year-old MH had finished his taraweeh prayers - performed each evening during Ramadan - at a mosque in Al Quoz 1 at about 10pm on August 18 when he was approached by HS, a 21-year-old from Pakistan, who began chatting to him and offered him a lift home.

He accepted the offer, but suspected something was wrong when the driver took an unexpected turn and stopped in a deserted area.

The labourer then drew a knife and ordered the 75-year-old to hand over his cash - Dh1,000 - and the rest of his possessions. He then hit the 75-year-old with a metal bar and threatened to kill him before driving off.

The labourer denied charges of kidnapping an elderly person, robbery, assault and issuing threats when he appeared at the Criminal Court but was found guilty. He will be deported after completing his jail term.

salamir@thenational.ae