A 52-year-old Pakistani trader has been charged in the Court of First Instance with forcibly kidnapping a countryman and taking him to Ajman before releasing him later after his friend paid up Dh5,400. He has accomplices who are still at large. The incident occurred on June 20 in Al Qusais.

"I was at the metro station parking spaces at around 2:30pm when a bus arrived and some men stepped off. They attacked me and forced me inside the bus," said the 29-year-old complainant, a Pakistani engineer.

"They drove to Ajman and then dropped me in a secluded area where they ordered me to pay Dh5,400. They said the mobile phones that I had delivered to their accomplice were counterfeit. They released me later after I called my friend and got him bring the money. My friend came with another man who witnessed it all."

A 26-year-old Pakistani salesman told the investigators he was with the victim's friend when the latter went to Ajman to pay the four suspects the money they had asked so to let their friend go.

A police lieutenant said, "The victim had bruises and scratches over his face and head. He told me he was kidnapped because of a dispute over counterfeit phones. When we apprehended the trader he admitted they kidnapped the victim from Dubai because of that deal".

A Pakistani security guard confirmed he spotted four men forcing the victim inside a bus at 2:20pm. "The man was screaming 'help me; help me. Call the police'. I informed my superior." The trial has been adjourned to October 26.

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