Charge: Guard stole $100, tried to eat it

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 20 (UPI) -- A security guard at a United Arab Emirates airport is accused of stealing a $100 bill from a U.S. woman and attempting to swallow it with water.

The woman and her husband, who is a commercial pilot, said the man, identified in court documents as H.A., 33, took the cash from the woman's handbag at Dubai International Airport and attempted to hide it in his pocket, Gulf News reported Wednesday.

The husband said he confronted H.A. and the security worker then put the bill in his mouth and attempted to use water from a nearby cooler to wash it down.

H.A., who pleaded not guilty to a theft charge, told the Dubai Court of First Instance the money fell on the ground while he was searching the bag and he put it in his pocket with the intention of returning it to the woman.

A verdict in the case is expected March 31.