Indian man in Dubai foils robbery, honoured

Dubai: An Indian man in Dubai was honoured for foiling a daylight robbery, media reported Thursday.

Shahnawaz Khan Zayn-Ul-Abideen, a 32-year-old Indian, was honoured by the Dubai Police for stopping a fleeing thief, pinning him to the ground and recovering the stolen money -- all of 320,000 dirhams (around $87,125), Khaleej Times reported.

Zayn Ul-Abideen is a partner in an electronics firm and has been living in Dubai for more than eight years.

“The robbery took place at 1 p.m. Saturday,” said police official Adel Abdul Aziz Al Suwaidi.

"A representative of a private company withdrew 320,000 dirhams from a bank. When he got inside his car and started moving, he heard a blast in the rear. He pulled the vehicle over to the roadside and saw one of the tyres had burst. He called his boss at the company, which was close by from the spot he had stopped, and his boss asked him to reach the office on foot,” said the official.

While walking, someone came from behind and snatched the envelope which contained the money and ran fast, the official said. Some 500 dirham notes fell on the road.

Zayn-Ul-Abideen, who was in his car, saw what had happened. He drove past the fleeing suspect and stopped the car and got out. He intercepted the suspect, overpowered him, pinned him down and called the police.

The officers arrived soon after and arrested the suspect, who is of an Asian nationality and had entered the country on a visit visa. He has no former criminal record.

In a simple ceremony held at Al Qusais police station, Zayn Ul-Abideen was honoured by Al Suwaidi, who handed him a sum of money and a letter of appreciation for his courage and cooperation with the police.

The company, where the man who was robbed works, also honoured him with a cash reward and a letter of appreciation.