Photo has been used for illustrative purposes

Hamza M Sengendo, Staff Reporter

A driver implicated in breaking into a supermarket in Al Quoz and speeding off with mobile phones and SIM cards has been referred to court.

The Asian defendant, 32, rented a car from a rental office. A fugitive mastermind replaced its number plates with plates stolen from another car. They and another cohort purchased gloves and masks on purpose.

At night on Dec.8, 2018, the driver transported the burglars to the scene. They used a metal cutter to smash its door lock. They lifted 11 Etisalat SIM cards and 13 Du SIM cards, Bur Dubai Police Station records showed.

They also decamped with mobile phones, a power bank and a storage memory. The items were worth Dhs16,040.

The defendant contends that he was not at the crime scene on the date and time of the incident.

He also argues that his earlier confession before the police was against his will since he was allegedly subjected to beating. The Criminal Court has set Oct.30 for the verdict. Prosecutors demand a tough penalty.

The supermarket’s Egyptian owner said, “An employee found the door open and its lock broken. I found the safe and other items missing. CCTV footage showed three mask-clad burglars cutting the lock with a saw.”

The footage showed two of them heading to the first floor as one waited on the ground floor. They went out with valuables. The owner complained to the Bur Dubai Police station and provided CCTV photos.

A Somali sergeant said the defendant upon arrest confessed and said he robbed the supermarket with four Asian accomplices. He said the mastermind met him and expressed that he and the others wanted to rob it.

At around 2am, the mastermind convened a meeting in Al Muraqqabat. He replaced the vehicle’s number plates.

They went to the scene. The defendant remained in the vehicle watching the situation outside. The mastermind paid him Dhs1, 500.