Dubai prisoners cleared of stealing computer which opens jail cells



DUBAI // Two prison inmates who blamed each other for stealing the computer used to lock and unlock the doors to all the cells were cleared of all charges yesterday - because a court could not decide which prisoner it was.

Emirati AS, 32 and Iranian MA, 29, were charged after a policeman arrived at block D of the Dubai Central Prison on February 24 to find all the cell doors open.

The computer from the prison's control room was later found in pieces in a rubbish bin. It was missing two parts, one of which was for opening and locking the doors of cells in block D in building 1 at the prison.

Dubai Court of Misdemeanors did not make clear whether any prisoners escaped while the doors were open.Both men denied stealing and smashing the computer - each of them claiming they saw the other carrying a plastic bag and that they offered to help.