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Death penalty sought for rapist stepfather

A man who allegedly raped his stepdaughter repeatedly over a three-year period, since she was 12, could face death penalty.

The man, who is alleged to have committed the acts while his wife was not in the house, was also accused of drinking alcohol and driving while drunk.

The Public Prosecution demanded death penalty against the defendant as per article 354 of UAE Penal Code on the grounds that the victim is a minor and the act was incest, which is illegal under the purview of Islamic Shariah.

According to court records, the victim’s mother and the defendant’s wife had reported to the police about the absence of the girl, who returned home at dawn, tired and confused.

When her mother and grandmother asked what had happened to her, she said the defendant had lured her to his car and told her that he wanted to talk to her. He drove her to a desert area, where he raped her while he was under the influence of alcohol.

When interrogated by the Public Prosecution, the victim said the defendant had been raping her since she was 12, and intermittently, while he was drunk. The victim said she could not refuse his request or tell her mother for fear of his punishment and threats.

A medical report showed that the victim was not a virgin.

On interrogation, the defendant confessed to consuming alcohol, but said he had only molested the victim and denied the charge of rape. He tried to justify his crime, saying he had been drunk and was not aware of his actions.

He has been ordered by the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution to be remanded in custody for 21 days.

An authoritative source at the Office of the Attorney-General said this case could not be confined to the criminal aspect and called for the severest punishment to act as a deterrent.

The source said society must deal, through all educational and social institutions, with the factors surrounding the defendant and the victim.

The most important question was what drove the defendant to commit this heinous crime, as his attitude was against the social and religious values, the source said.

The source also blamed the absence of the role of parents, school and friends, which led to the crime to continue for three years without being brought to light.

For children to be protected, it was necessary to have a healthy society, the source said, while referring to the recent creation of the Wadeema law — named after a young Emirati girl who was tortured to death by her father.

The law aims to implement mechanisms which will help a child speak freely about any danger. The law lays heavy penalties against any person who knows that child abuse is going on but does not inform the authorities. The source called on parents to build bridges of confidence with their children, so they have the ability to disclose any abuse.

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