A Dubai misdemeanor court has issued a strict ruling against an Asian national, sentencing him to two years in prison followed by deportation after being convicted of stealing fuel worth just 20 dirhams from a delivery motorcycle, in a case that highlights the seriousness of criminal intent regardless of the stolen amount.

The incident took place in Al Quoz Industrial Area 4, where a delivery rider briefly left his motorcycle outside his workplace without removing the key, only to return minutes later and discover it missing, prompting an immediate police report and investigation.

According to case details, the accused took advantage of the quiet surroundings and darkness, drove the motorcycle to a nearby location close to a shopping center, and used a tube to siphon fuel from its tank into his own motorcycle after realizing it had run out of fuel, before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

Investigations further revealed that the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the crime, admitting to consuming alcohol in public, which constituted an additional offense under the law and led to a separate penalty alongside the theft and unauthorized use charges.

The court confirmed that criminal intent was clearly established through the defendant’s confession, victim testimony, and police findings, ultimately sentencing him to two years for theft and unlawful use, an additional one month for public intoxication, a fine equal to the stolen amount, and deportation upon completion of his sentence.