Expat gropes, slaps woman tourist on Dubai street

A 30-year-old man has gone on trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance for allegedly sexually harassing and physically assaulting a woman tourist on the street.
According to public prosecution, the Egyptian worker groped the Nepali woman while she walked after 9am on March 7 and then tried to hug her.
He did not stop at that and slapped her twice while forcibly grabbing her hands when she pushed him away.
The man remains in detention while prosecutors seek the most severe penalty against him, as per the law.
He denied the charge in court, claiming he touched the woman unintentionally.
During the public prosecution investigation, the complainant, 25, recounted how she was shocked by the defendant's sudden move. "I was walking between the buildings in the Grand Souq when that man suddenly violently groped me. He slapped me and told me to stay quiet as I pushed him away."
She added that he then grabbed her hands while trying to hug her. "He slapped me again after I pushed him away from me. I sought help from passers-by. I saw two police officers coming my way. They apprehended the man after hearing what he did."

An on-duty police sergeant said that it was around 10am at the Grand Souq in Al Rafaa when the complainant stopped him. "The defendant, who was standing near her, claimed he touched the woman by mistake. The accused claimed he did not mean to touch her and that he had to keep her away when she grabbed him".
The police officer then took both of them to the police station.
A forensic report showed the complainant was left with minor bruises because of the incident.
A ruling will be pronounced on July 14.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai

Marie Nammour

mary@khaleejtimes.com