Khaberni - The Public Prosecution in the UAE referred nine defendants of an Arab nationality to trial after investigations revealed their involvement in forming an organized criminal gang, which committed a series of serious crimes that threaten the state's security, public order, and societal peace.
The case details trace back to a report received by the Federal Public Prosecution through its digital application "Safe Community," from one of the victims, who reported being kidnapped and sexually assaulted, and his privacy violated by being filmed with his hands tied in visual clips.
Following the directions of the Public Prosecutor, the Public Prosecution began investigating and collecting evidence on the incident and instructed the Federal Judicial Arrest Office to take the necessary investigations to identify and arrest the perpetrators swiftly, while reserving the tools used in committing the crimes.
The investigations showed that the defendants lured the victim to one of their houses over financial disputes, then assaulted him, tied his hands, and held him captive for a full week after forcing him to sign promissory notes before they filmed him naked and published the clips on a social media platform, extorting his family for money.
The car and mobile phones used in committing the crime were also seized, which contained the visual clips that prove the defendants' involvement in the crimes attributed to them, confirming the organized and dangerous nature of the gang.
The defendants face charges that may lead to the death penalty or life imprisonment, as it has been proven that they formed an organized gang which activities threatened state security.
The Public Prosecutor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi confirmed that safeguarding the state security and stability is a top national priority that allows no leniency, emphasizing the Public Prosecution's determination to continue its mission in protecting lives and property, faithfully enforcing the law with firmness and justice. He also stressed that the prosecution will not hesitate in pursuing perpetrators of crimes threatening national security or community peace and bringing them to justice according to the law.
• The defendants lured one of the victims, beat him, bound his hands, and detained him for a full week after forcing him to sign promissory notes, filmed him naked, published the clips on social media, and extorted his family for money.
