Three men stole 60 electric cables from an under-constrution mosque after assaulting the site’s security guard, Dubai Criminal Court heard.

At almost 1am on May 13, the Pakistanis, aged 25 and 26, attacked the 44-year-old Indian at the building in Al Warqa.

“I woke up to a knife on my neck,” said the guard. Three men threatened to kill him, he said. They assaulted, gagged and blindfolded him. the court was told.

When he was eventually able to untie himself he called police. Officers discovered cables valued Dh6,000 had been stolen from the site.

One of the defendants was arrested at his home in Sharjah and charged with theft.

“During questioning, he confessed and told us about his accomplices,” said a 31-year-old policeman. He said the other two men were arrested soon after.