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One of the accused involved in an infamous Dh14.7 million heist at Dubai's Wafi Mall in 2007, who was handed over to Dubai Police by Spanish authorities, appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court.
The gang has been named 'Pink Panther' by the Interpol after they committed series of jewellery thefts in Europe and Japan as reported by Emirates 24/7.
In Dubai's Graff store robbery, the gang used two stolen Audi cars, one black and a white, by which they raced into the font gates of the mall at around 10pm, shocking shoppers.
Members of the Pink Panther gang smashed into the glass facade of Wafi mall with cars, and within seconds fled with Dh14.7 million worth of jewellery.
Dressed in black, the men covered their face with masks and rushed into the store carrying hammers and guns (which turned out to be fake), smashed glass display cabinets, and fled with the valuables in bags they were carrying.
The gang drove away to a nearby Road where they burnt the two cars in an attempt to wipe out all evidence.
Later, Dubai Police arrested two suspects NM and MM before they could flee the country. The stolen jewellery was found in a Nissan Sunny that was rented by one of the members identified as ML.
ML had entered the country using a forged passport that carried the name of NZ.
ML, however, fled the country after the crime. The rented car was found parked at about 500m away from the flat where some of the accused were staying, including AB, who appeared before the court.
AB also fled from the country on April 17, three days after the crime. He had entered the UAE on March 17 using a forged Yugoslavian passport under the name of Marin Stanic.
A couple of days after the robbery, a car renting firm informed the police about an overseas call asking them not to inform the police and that their charges would be paid.
Police arrested one of the accused MM when he approached the same rented car. Later, Dubai Police arrested NM.
In 2009, the Cassation court upheld 10 years jail sentence for NM. However, the court acquitted MM from possession of stolen jewellery charge.
During the investigation, Dubai Police in a meeting with the Interpol identified AB, 34, Serbian, whose DNA was found in the crime scene.
When shown pictures of the suspect, the watchman of the building in Al Rifaa area recognised him and his compatriot, fugitive LM, who entered the country with a forged Yugoslavian passport.