A
former waiter at the Armani Hotel Dubai has pleaded guilty to stealing up to
AED300,000 ($81,683) worth of goods from guests at the luxury hotel, it has
been reported.
It’s
the first criminal case to be filed involving the five-star hotel, which occupies
the first six floors of the Burj Khalifa.
The
case, which was brought before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance on
Sunday and has been adjourned for sentencing, only came to light when a Kuwaiti
guest reported that his AED53,000 Rolex watch had gone missing.
“I
went to shop at Dubai Mall before I was due to check out and return to Kuwait.
When I arrived home, I discovered that the watch was missing,” Kuwait
businessman Fahad al Anizi told prosecutors on Sunday, according to media reports.
When
Al Anizi returned to Dubai a week later, he filed a complaint at Bur Dubai
Police Station on August 1. An investigation found that a 20- year-old South
Africa waiter, described in court as KM, had been inside the room while Al
Anizi was out.
“When
we interrogated him, he confessed to stealing the watch,” a Dubai Police
officer told the court. During a search of KM’s home, he admitted stealing from
other guests while working at the hotel.
“We
recovered Dh330,200 in cash from his home in Discovery Gardens,” the
officer was quoted as saying by The National.
The
case has been adjourned for sentencing on November 28. KM remains in custody.
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