Stolen tear gas used in robbery, court hears

DUBAI // A man accused of stealing tear gas and using it in a home invasion failed to appear to in a Dubai court this morning to face the charges.

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance was told that SE, 19, and two other men stole the tear gas from an undisclosed location on December 15. One of the alleged accomplices is being tried separately and the other remains at large.

SD, a 33-year-old Indian painter, told prosecutors that about 10pm one night as he and his roommates were sitting on the floor eating dinner, SE and his accomplices burst in. They pretended to be police officers, he testified.

They started searching the home, then set off the tear gas canisters, records show.

SD said SE took about Dh1,500 and a mobile phone before fleeing. But the residents managed to grab one of the men as he ran and called police, SD said.

The next hearing will be on July 20 to summon the defendant.

salamir@thenational.ae