Five men raided a car workshop impersonating as police officers and beat up a pair of labourers before stealing their possessions and sabotaging security cameras in a bid to cover up the crime.
The High Criminal Court sentenced the defendants to five years in prison each on charges of theft and assault.
The burglary was planned in advance, when the Bahrainis met in the Salman Town house of one of the defendants, assigning roles, setting dates and agreeing upon the method of transportation.
The court heard that the idea of the robbery came when the friends were gathered at 30-year-old driver’s house. A 28-year-old security guard raised the suggestion and a plan was drawn up.
On the night of the raid, the gang arrived at Salmabad in the guard’s car and broke into the property.
Two terrified expatriate workers – a Sri Lankan and a Bangladeshi – were asleep in an attached residence when they were confronted by the 30-year-old and two of his co-defendants armed with iron rods, posing as policemen and full of threats.
The 28-year-old seized the Sri Lankan victim’s phone and demanded its password, and when he refused, he was smacked in the eye. They then set about the Bangladeshi, injuring his hand, before snatching his phone.
Before they left, one of the defendants sabotaged the garage’s security cameras, taking a recording device to cover their tracks.
The gang fled the garage with two mobile phones, BD350 in cash, a watch and a tablet, and rushed to where two getaway cars were waiting.
The traumatised workers immediately filed a complaint at a nearby police station, which led to the identification and arrest of the suspects.
The 28-year-old guard was the first to be arrested, and following interrogations, the others were apprehended too. During questioning, all five admitted to the charges, the court was told.
“The convicts committed an armed robbery, yielding metal implements, and were able to disable the victims’ resistance through force,” read the verdict.
According to commercial registration (CR) portal the garage opened in 1993 and is specialised in the maintenance, repair and painting of vehicles, and the sale of parts and accessories.
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