Sword-wielding masked gang jailed

Gang of four masked, sword-wielding intruders who robbed eight Asian bachelors of cash and valuables are jailed.

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DUBAI // A gang of four masked, sword-wielding intruders who robbed eight Asian bachelors of cash and valuables were jailed yesterday by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance. FD, 28, an Emirati, and SS, 36, a stateless man, were given three-year prison sentences, while two Iranians, BS, 18, and NS, 20, each received one-year sentences, and were ordered to be deported after serving their time.

SS was the only defendant to plead guilty to armed robbery at the first hearing on May 10. Police announced last December that they had arrested the gang, who specialised in targeting Asian bachelors. They said a group of Asian men reported that two men and a woman wielding swords broke into their house on Oct 16 and demanded cash and valuables. One of the victims, JB, 23, an Indian engineer, said in his written statement that the culprits, claiming to be police, entered the residence at about 1am. He said one of the gang was a woman and only one of them, a man, was not wearing a mask.

The culprits forced residents to hand over their valuables. Police said the gang took Dh7,500 (US$2,040) and 1,500 Indian rupees (Dh115) in cash, eight mobile phones and a gold ring. hmbathish@thenational.ae