UAE prosecution refers nine to court over kidnapping, extortion and other crimes

The UAE’s Federal Public Prosecution has referred nine Arab nationals to court for their alleged involvement in an organized criminal gang accused of kidnapping, extortion and indecent assault - crimes that authorities say posed a serious threat to social peace and state security, WAM reported.

The case began after a complaint was lodged through the prosecution’s digital platform My Safe Society, in which a victim claimed he had been abducted, assaulted, and filmed while restrained.

Following the directives of Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, investigators swiftly gathered evidence and coordinated with the Federal Judicial Enforcement Office to identify and arrest the suspects, seizing the tools used in the crime.

Investigations revealed that the defendants lured the victim to a residence over a financial dispute, where they allegedly detained him for a week, forced him to sign debt papers, filmed him in compromising conditions, and later circulated the footage online to blackmail his family.

Authorities confiscated the vehicle and mobile phones used in the crime, which contained evidence linking the group to organized criminal activity.

The suspects now face charges that carry life imprisonment or the death penalty, given the severity and organized nature of the offences.

Attorney-General Al Shamsi reiterated that protecting national security and public safety remains a top priority, emphasizing that the UAE will show zero tolerance for crimes threatening its stability or the wellbeing of its residents.