Dh242,000 stolen in road assistance scam, court hears

Man was leaving bank when passer-by pointed out burst tyre, then took money, prosecutors say.

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Dubai // Two visitors are facing charges of stealing Dh242,500 from a Lebanese businessman four years ago by distracting him with a burst car tyre, a Dubai court heard this morning.

The suspect KE, 32, denied the charge before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance while his alleged accomplice, AH, 48, refused to come to court, the court heard. 

Records stated that the victim, BW, 27, was stepping out of a bank on Sheikh Zayed Road in December 2006 with the cash when one of the suspects told him his car's back tyre had burst. 

BW stepped out of the car to check, and when he returned he found the money envelope was missing, records show. 

He told prosecutors that the thieves all ran away. As many as two other men may have been involved, records say. 

The court will reconvene on February 23 to hear testimony from the second suspect.

salamir@thenational.ae