Man on trial for molesting 7-year-old girl at gift shop in Dubai

Dubai - The accused denied charge in court.

A 36-year-old man, accused of groping a seven-year-old girl, denied a molestation charge at the Dubai Court of First Instance.
Dubai prosecutors accused the Indian man, a construction worker, of taking advantage of the girl, who was away from her mother, to touch her inappropriately. The incident happened on April 17 at a gift shop. A complaint was filed at Al Barsha police station following which the defendant was detained.
During the investigation, the accused admitted that he touched the victim twice.
The girl's mother, a Moroccan housewife, said she was with her daughter and her younger son at the shop on April 17. "As I was busy shopping, my son went to the playing corner and then my daughter went after him. Moments later, she came back looking scared."
The girl did not tell her mother right away. Later, she pointed at the defendant who was standing near them and said that he touched her twice. Her father lodged a complaint after he learned about the incident.
The girl was evaluated by a psychiatrist at the family and juvenile cases section at the public prosecution.
A ruling will be pronounced on June 25.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai