Dubai: Two jobless men have been jailed for one year each for beating a merchant and stealing Dh3.1 million from him that was meant to be used to purchase petroleum products.

The 42-year-old Indian merchant, who trades in petroleum products, was contacted by a fellow businessman from India who informed him about a deal to purchase petroleum products worth nearly Dh11 million in September.

The merchant communicated with the two men — a 30-year-old Syrian and a 26-year-old Uzbek — who informed him about a deal worth Dh11 million and asked him to prove his financial status by bringing part of the money in cash.

The merchant asked his bank to provide him Dh3.67 million in cash and he collected the money at his own risk and responsibility.

On Thursday, the Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the Syrian and Uzbek defendants of assaulting the merchant and robbing Dh3.1 million when he went to meet the duo who posed as dealers.

The defendants took him in their vehicle for a while before they beat him up and snatched the bag from him.

The merchant managed to hold on to Dh500,000 out of the total amount that he had with him for the deal, said records.

Presiding judge Urfan Omar said the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, will be deported.

The merchant’s lawyer lodged a civil lawsuit against the suspects and in which his client is seeking temporary compensation against his moral and financial losses.

The merchant told prosecutors: “I met the accused in their car in a parking lot near Port Saeed area … once I showed them the money, they assaulted me, threw me out of the moving car and snatched the bag from me. I managed to hold on to a bundle of Dh500,000. I reported the matter to the police instantly,” he told prosecutors.

A police lieutenant testified that the Syrian and Uzbek defendants were apprehended once they were identified.

“During questioning, the suspects said that they picked up the merchant in their car and discussed with him the probability of converting the dirhams to US dollars. They said that they beat the Indian merchant, took the money and drove away after pushing him out of the car. They distributed the stolen amount among themselves once they reached Sharjah … police seized around Dh3.1 million from the suspects’ possession after their arrest,” the police official said.

Police are still searching for a third suspect.

The primary ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.