Nine men have been sentenced to three years in prison by the Ajman Federal Court of First Instance after posing as criminal investigators and stealing over AED 400,000 in a coordinated robbery, Gulf News reported.
The court also ordered each of the defendants to pay a fine equivalent to the amount stolen. Seven of the men, identified as foreign nationals, will be deported after completing their sentences.
The case unfolded when the victim agreed to meet a group of men to exchange AED 400,000 for US dollars. On the day of the transaction, three individuals approached him claiming to be CID officers, demanding that he and his companions step out of their vehicle. While pretending to inspect documents and using mobile phones to communicate, one of the assailants discreetly grabbed a bag filled with cash from the vehicle and fled with the others.
Following a swift investigation, Ajman Police tracked down and arrested the suspects. Authorities recovered most of the stolen money—except for AED 63,000, which remains unaccounted for.
During court proceedings, the victim identified several of the accused through a remote lineup. Eyewitnesses corroborated the victim’s account, with one recalling the moment masked men presented fake IDs and confronted the group. Another witness stated that one of the accused had earlier examined the money and guided the others to the scene.
Court documents showed that one of the defendants gave a full confession detailing his role, while others admitted partial involvement. However, several challenged their arrests and denied the charges, but the court found their arguments baseless.
In its verdict, the court concluded that the robbery was planned and executed with intent, supported by compelling evidence including confessions, testimonies, and the victim’s identification.
The defendants were found guilty of impersonating officials, unlawfully performing official duties, and theft by deception and conspiracy.
