Dubai: A deaf and mute woman, who travelled for the first time in her life, has been accused of going on a shoplifting spree of gold items from six jewellers at Gold Souq in Dubai.

The 35-year-old Algerian woman, whose family members are well-known justice officials, was said to be on a five-day holiday in Dubai with a friend when she robbed six stores within two days.

Not being able to address the Dubai Misdemeanours Court without a special deaf and mute translator, the 35-year-old at first could not enter a plea, however, it could be understood from what she was signalling to presiding judge Ayman Abdul Hakam that she’s guilty.

The presiding judge didn’t ask the secretary to record the suspect’s plea in the minutes of the hearing and adjourned it for nearly 15 minutes until a deaf and mute translator was provided.

Thereafter, addressing the court through the special translator, the Algerian woman admitted that she had walked into a jewellery store, picked up a pair of earrings, put them in her pocket and walked out of the store unnoticed.

When asked by presiding judge Abdul Hakam if she was involved in any other case before she was detained, the suspect replied: “Yes I am. I have been in custody for a while now and I am facing six cases of theft [in which the same modus operandi was used].”

When the presiding judge asked her to elaborate how she had carried out those thefts, the woman replied that it was very easy and quick.

“I would just walk into a store, look around for a bit and then I would pick up an item, put it inside my pocket and then walk out ... I repeated the same act six times in two consecutive days,” responded the suspect, who was brought to court in her navy-blue prison outfit.

When asked if she suffers from kleptomania (an inability to control one’s self from stealing) or whether she had a habit of stealing, the suspect replied: “No I don’t ... just the fact that it was too easy to do it, I simply did it. I simply took those items and walked away.”

Then the woman was seen begging the judge to speed up the litigation process because she had to go back to her children.

“Where are your children now? And why did you leave your children alone and come on a holiday,” presiding judge Abdul Hakam asked her.

The suspect explained: “I have never travelled outside my country ... my husband who works in Europe came to Algeria on a visit and he stayed with the children. Then my friend suggested that we come here on a five-day holiday since I have never travelled.”

Records showed the Algerian woman is facing six cases of shoplifting on six separate occasions.

The translator was further heard telling the court as he was citing the suspect that she had never been involved in any heists or criminal acts in her hometown.

She further asked presiding judge Abdul Hakam to treat her with leniency since she did not intend to steal but the fact that it was just too easy to “grab the items and walk away unnoticed was what lured her to rob the six stores”.

A ruling will be heard next month.