Policeman who stole DVD from Duty Free gets six months in Dubai

An Emirati policeman faces six months in jail for stealing a DVD of the science-fiction action movie Avatar from the Dubai International Airport's Duty Free Section. The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 23-year-old policeman of stealing the Avatar DVD and hiding it under his jacket before leaving his post as duty policeman at the airport. Prosecutors had accused the policeman M.N. of theft but he pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir Fahmi. The charges said M.N. went to the Duty Free shop and took the DVD from the shelf, hid it under his jacket and walked away without paying. An Indian sales attendant at the Duty Free testified that she spotted the defendant taking the DVD and hiding it in his jacket. "I went to the nearest guardsman and informed him. Then I told my supervisor at work," the saleswoman claimed. In his testimony an Emirati police corporal told prosecutors: "M.N. works under my supervision. Dubai Police's criminal records unit informed me that he should report to them immediately. "The defendant was off for a week… when he returned, I asked him to visit the unit. Then we discovered that he was wanted for stealing the DVD. Surveillance cameras showed him taking the DVD off the shelf." Prosecution records said the defendant earlier admitted to taking the DVD. The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days. from / Gulf News