Bassam Zaazaa

Special to Arab News

DUBAI: A Japanese senior executive was mugged by two salesmen, who abused the fact that their target was drunk when they assaulted and stole his phone and wallet containing cash and bankcards.

The Dubai-based 44-year-old Japanese executive had been out drinking at a pub and was heading back to his house in Al Rifaa vicinity when two Pakistani men mugged him at 3.30am.

The executive, identified as Y.F., was heading back to his flat when the Pakistani duo, posed to him as policemen and asked for his identification papers, sources close to the case told Arab News.

The muggers instantly took advantage of Y.F.’s drunkenness and assaulted him when he refused to present his papers and give them cash money.

Legal sources told Arab News that the Japanese didn’t surrender easily and tried to defend himself when the duo brutally assaulted him.

The Prosecutor General’s office in Dubai accused the Pakistani duo, 25-year-old Ghulam and 34-year-old Nasser, of police impersonation, assaulting the Japanese victim and stealing a black bag that contained his Dh4,000 cash, six Japanese bankcards, his Emirates ID, driving license and a smartphone worth Dh2,000. The bag also contained Y.F.’s house keys.

The Pakistani defendants pleaded not guilty when they showed up before the Dubai Criminal Court earlier this week.

Arab News sources could not confirm whether the victim had lodged a civil lawsuit to claim compensation against the damages inflicted on him by his muggers.

However the presiding judge adjourned the case until the court hears the victim’s statement.

According to legal documents, the Pakistani muggers exploited the fact that Y.F. was drunk while walking back to his house in November 2019.

The defendants stopped the victim and claimed to be policemen, according to official papers, but when he refused to present his ID, the culprits beat him up and stole his belongings.

Medical reports confirmed that the victim suffered painful bruises in his head, back, ear and arm.

The criminal court reconvenes for the judges’ bench to hear the victim’s statement in February.