Dubai court orders gang of four to pay Dhs1.835 million over theft at gunpoint
- Last updated: August 11, 2026 | 18:14
Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter
A gang of four robbed an American man at gunpoint, taking the equivalent of $500,000 in cryptocurrency (approximately Dhs1.835 million). They threatened him and compelled him to transfer the money from his account to one of their accounts while inside his Dubai home.
The criminal court sentenced the four to two years in prison, imposed a fine equal to the stolen amount, and ordered their deportation.
After the final criminal verdict, the victim pursued a civil lawsuit in the Dubai Civil Court, seeking joint liability from the defendants to return the stolen funds, compensate for the emotional distress caused, and cover legal interest.
The incident occurred in January 2025 when the man was robbed at gunpoint at his residence. Under threat, he was forced to transfer $500,000 in cryptocurrency from his wallet to one of the gang's accounts. He reported the crime to the police the next day, leading to its registration as a criminal case, alongside filing a civil claim within the criminal proceedings.
In the case file, it is documented that the criminal court found the defendants guilty and sentenced each to two years in prison. They were also ordered to pay a joint fine equivalent to $500,000 in local currency, equal to the amount stolen. Additionally, the court issued their deportation and transferred the civil case to a civil court. The defendants appealed the decision, but the appeals court maintained the convictions.
After the criminal ruling was finalised, the civil court examined the case and accepted the final criminal judgment as conclusive in proving the crime and assigning responsibility to the defendants. The court ruled that the defendants must jointly pay the victim Dh1.835 million, representing the stolen money, with a legal interest rate of 5% per annum from the claim date until full settlement.
Furthermore, they were required to jointly pay Dhs30,000 as compensation for moral damages, as it was proven that the theft involved threats and coercion.