Phone theft trio acquitted on appeal

Three men jailed for stealing mobile phones and forging identity documents have been acquitted following an appeal.

The trio, two Pakistanis and one Indian national, were each sentenced to six months in prison in November last year.

The Indian defendant, who worked as a telecoms salesman, was charged with helping steal iPhones worth nearly Dh15,000.

His co-accused were also found guilty of forging documents and computer passwords to obtain and sell iPhones issued by the company.

During a hearing at the appeals court this week, a lawyer for the men disputed the evidence given at their trial.

He described the testimony against the three as weak and claimed no real proof existed of the crime.

“The testimony was vague regarding my clients’ alleged role,” he said.

Judges at the Dubai Court of Appeal acquitted all three men of all charges.