A gang of five men and one woman who stole Dh1.3 million in cash during a New Year's Eve raid on a Dubai villa have each been sentenced to three years in jail.
Three of the men forced their way into the property in Al Barsha after the owners went out for the evening, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
When they returned in the early hours of the morning, they found their home had been broken into.
“I went out to celebrate the new year with my family. When I came back around 4am, I noticed some cash was missing from my drawer,” said the villa's Egyptian owner.
He then checked his bedroom and discovered Dh1.3 million in cash he kept in two suitcases was missing.
Money in different currencies, official documents and watches worth nearly Dh60,000 were also taken.
“I looked around the house and saw a glass door in the ground floor was broken and called police at once,” said the owner.
Police tracked down one of the thieves, a 58-year-old man, who gave up the identity of his accomplices.
“He said his role was to monitor villas they decided to rob and to drive the getaway car. He also admitted committing the robbery with two other men who left the country following the robbery,” said a first lieutenant in evidence.
Investigations revealed that three of the Chinese defendants, aged 28, 36, and 58, arrived in the UAE on visit visas.
Another two men and a woman, aged 30, 51, and 52, followed them days later to collect the stolen items.
Three male defendants and the woman accused were convicted – in their presence – of armed robbery and were sentenced to three years in prison each.
The pair who remain at large were convicted of possessing stolen items. They were sentenced to three years each in prison.
They were each fined Dh1.3 million and will be deported after serving their terms.
The verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
Fatherland
Kele Okereke
(BMG)
