A female Argentinian reporter was robbed live on TV while reporting in Qatar for the World Cup.
Dominique Metzger was broadcasting during the excitement of the first match of the tournament when she says the items were stolen from her purse.
“I had my small bag on me with all the things that one needs, my wallet, the keys to our hotel room, some napkins,” Metzger said.
When asked about the incident, Metzger said, “I was dancing with the crowd and I’m convinced that it was at that moment when someone opened the bag zipper and took my wallet.”
“I didn’t realize at that moment, you know you’re live on air, with music and crowds around you, and I was focused on you talking to me too. So I wasn’t paying attention. After I finish my live report, I wanted to take my wallet to buy a water bottle and then I realized I didn’t have it,” she recalled.
In an effort to control crime, Qatar has installed thousands of cameras around its newly built stadiums, as well as 15,000 high-resolution cameras inside every stadium. The technology is also assisted by facial recognition software.
“The moment I was being taken declaration was shocking. They told me, ‘What do you want justice to do about this? We will find the wallet… We have cameras everywhere, high-tech cameras and we will find the thief with face detection technology. What do you want the justice system to do to them when they are found?'”
Metzger, confused by the question asked the officers what they meant. They responded by saying, “Do you want us to sentence him to five years in prison, to be deported?”
“I told them I just want my wallet back, I won’t be making the decision for the justice system,” she stated.
