Dubai: Woman to pay Dh15,000 after stealing gold necklace

A European woman has been convicted of shoplifting a gold necklace worth Dh10,000 from a Dubai jewellery store and ordered to pay a total of Dh15,000 in fines and compensation. The Dubai Misdemeanours and Violations Court imposed a Dh5,000 fine and an additional Dh10,000 to reimburse the store for the stolen item. The incident occurred in March this year when a store employee noticed the necklace missing shortly after the suspect’s visit. Surveillance footage captured the woman placing the necklace in her handbag and hastily exiting the premises. Police identified the suspect through her vehicle and apprehended her. During interrogation, the woman admitted to taking the necklace but claimed she had no intention of stealing it, citing emotional distress due to her sister’s recent death. Her defence lawyer pleaded for leniency, but the court ruled that the evidence clearly indicated intent to steal. The judge emphasized that the defendant’s actions and the circumstances surrounding the incident demonstrated full awareness of her conduct.