Lovesick landlord in dock for groping tenant

A landlord faced charges for allegedly harassing his villa tenant sexually on Sunday.
The Court of First Instance was told that the Romanian man, a 30-year-old manager, whose wife owned the villa in Mirdiff, where the incident took place, allegedly trespassed into the locality accompanied by two other men, and groped and hugged the resident, a British flight attendant.
He is facing charges including molestation, physical assault, making criminal threats and trespass.
He is believed to have pushed the woman and caused her to fall down. He also allegedly threatened her mother of breaking her leg if she did not keep quiet.
The complainant said that about one month prior to her police report the accused began sexually harassing her.
"He used to say I am pretty and that he wanted to go out with me. He also invited me to his own flat."
On March 19, the defendant, she claimed, came to her place accompanied by two other men.
"The moment he got in, he hugged and touched me. He was wearing nothing but a short. He told me he missed me."
When she pushed him away, asking him to leave, he shoved her causing her to fall down.
"My mother shouted at him to leave and get away from me. So he threatened to break her leg if she did not stay quiet. He said he would kick us out."
The complainant's mother said that as she shouted at the defendant to leave their place he said he had connections in the police.
"He told me to do whatever I wanted saying he did not care as he had friends in the police".
She added that she stayed in the UK and that she came to Dubai to testify in the case.
An Iraqi flight attendant, who lives in a separate floor in the villa, said he came down to the ground floor when he heard the shouting.
"The accused told us and the complainant to leave the villa within 20 minutes. He had two other men with him; one is Lebanese. I think he wanted to give the villa for rent to other people."
"I did not witness him assaulting her or her mother but I saw bruises on the complainant's hand and shoulder."
He added that about one week earlier, the complainant told him that the accused invited her for a drink and that he asked her to live with him in his flat.
A verdict is expected on July 24.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai