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Brazilian girl to stay with family as the legal process goes on

ABU DHABI — An official source at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said that the 14-year-old Brazilian girl, sentenced last week by the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance to six months in jail to be followed by deportation for consensual sex with a Pakistani man out of wedlock, can appeal against the verdict within a period of 15 days from the handing down of the sentence.

The source added that the girl has not been detained and has been in the custody of her family throughout the investigation and the court hearings and that she will remain with her family until the completion of the due legal process, including any appeal.

“ The Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance has convicted the defendant to six months in jail to be followed by deportation after it downgraded the charge to one of consensual sex,” the source said.

“The Court handed down its verdict after reviewing the case’s file and examining the statements made by the defendant to the Police and during the investigation by the Public Prosecution in which she confessed to the charges filed against her. She then retracted these statements before the court,” the source said.

“Because of the age of the girl defendant, the Court used its powers under Articles 99/A and 100 of the Federal Penal Code to hand down a light sentence,” the source added, noting that the court case had been held behind closed doors, in order to protect the girl’s identity. —