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Man on trial for ‘groping photographer in lift’

DUBAI - An Egyptian waiter stood trial on Monday in the Court of First Instance, for assaulting a woman in the lift of her building in Abu Hail after midnight.

The defendant, 24, allegedly groped the Filipina and then pushed her outside the lift. The incident dates back to February. The woman, a 27-year-old photographer, told the prosecutor that the incident happened when she was coming back from a wedding. She said it was about 1.35am when she and her colleague took the lift.It was the first time she ever saw him. She was surprised by him groping her before reaching the second floor where she lived.

She punched him on his shoulder. He grabbed her by her left arm and at that moment the lift door opened at her floor. She told her friend to go out and call for help. The defendant then hit her on her abdomen and her right shoulder hit the wall and she fell down. The defendant then grabbed her by her hand and pulled her towards the emergency exit.

By that time her friend and other people arrived, the defendant let go of her hand and took the stairs. She called the police and the defendant was shortly arrested outside the building. The complainant said that she suffered pain in her abdomen where he hit her.

The complainant’s colleague, a 27-year-old Filipina, gave the same statement during the investigation. She said she did not know why the accused groped her friend but she thought he was drunk. Her friend was screaming and she did not intervene because she was scared.

mary@khaleejtimes.com