DUBAI: Three military officers and an accomplice, who stormed a detained trader’s villa, restrained its watchman at gunpoint and fled with Dhs35m jewellery and antiques, were incarcerated on Monday.

The Arab soldier, 34, sergeant, 48, corporal, 40, and unemployed accomplice, 29, reportedly raided the villa of the Emirati trader, 40, in Al Garhoud at around 1.55am on Jul.3 brandishing two pistols.

They were also armed with a hammer, a screwdriver, an electric saw and a sharp tool. They subdued the Pakistani watchman, 24, tied him up and smashed two safes, prosecutors said on Sept.11.

At the Criminal Court, the soldier, corporal and accomplice denied. The sergeant confessed and testified against them.

The court jailed the quartet for three years. A civil court hearing will open soon.

They stole 300 time-honoured lavish watches worth Dhs20m including Rolexes and Cartiers, antique sumptuous jewellery pieces including necklaces, bangles, chains, rings and earrings of international brands

“I deal in collecting such valuables and reselling them.

“I purchased the watches and jewellery on action within the UAE and abroad,” explained the trader who valued the jewellery at around Dhs5m.

They stole various antiques and manuscripts, a $150 rare Holy Quran, a Dhs1m lady’s handbag embroidered with a Cartier watch and stole cheques, business contracts and partnership documents.

They stole 250 gold, steel and diamond-studded Rolex watches worth Dhs4,856,000 plus power of attorney letters, jewellery receipts. They gathered more watches and jewellery pieces from racks.

The watchman said, “Four masked men made their way inside the villa. Two of them brandished pistols while shouting ‘Police!’ I tried to tell them I was the watchman. They refused to listen.

“They tied me with plastic codes and questioned me in Urdu whether there was anyone else home. They shoved me down and dragged me inside the villa’s attachment. One remained guarding me.

“I heard cracking sounds inside the villa…I later struggled my way out to the street.  A cabbie untied me. I contacted my senior who supposed they were police investigators. I avoided contacting the police.”

The trader narrated, “A month before the incident I was detained at Al Muraqqabat Police Station over financial cases. On Jul.4 Rashidiyah Police Station personnel received me and took me to the villa.

“I realised intruders had forced their way inside my storeroom, pushed down a big safe and smashed it open using sharp tools.

“They also smashed another one, stealing Dhs35m valuables.”