Drunk man tells Dubai woman he needs a hug, molests her in lift

Dubai - He then asked the woman if he should visit her house, or go to his room instead.

A man sought comfort from a female resident before suddenly hugging her tightly in a lift, a court heard.

The Court of First Instance was told the 30-year-old Egyptian man met the complainant, a Canadian, at the lift of the tower where she lived, at a very late hour. He initiated a conversation with her about how sad he was and as she patted on his shoulder, when he suddenly pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly.

In addition, he talked inappropriately to her, luring her to invite him to her place or accompanying him to his.

He has been charged with molestation and verbally breaching a woman's modesty.

The woman, a 36-year-old who works as an engineer, has been charged with the offense of consuming alcohol without a license.

The incident took place on May 26, and a complaint was registered at Al Barsha police station.

The complainant said she came back to her place around 3:30am. "I took the lift and pressed the button for the 62nd floor at the same time when the defendant walked in. He wanted to go to the 64th. He did not look normal and smelled like alcohol. He was talking too much."

She told the prosecutor the accused asked her about her name and nationality. "He said he was sad and needed someone to hug him. So I patted on his shoulder."

However, she was surprised by him pulling her towards him and hugging her as she pushed him away.

"He talked inappropriately to me asking me whether there was anyone in my place. He then said I should go to his room or invite him over," she said.

She said she lodged a complaint on May 30.

"She came to the police station around 11am. I went with her to the tower. She said that a man sexually harassed her and tried to hug and kiss her. We heard from the security guards that the complainant had already checked the camera surveillance recordings. We arrested the accused about three days later when he entered the building," a police corporal said.

"The defendant denied having attacked the complainant and claimed what happened was consensual.

He claimed he hugged her because they were friends and they used to chat on WhatsApp".

However, the corporal arrested the accused after he failed to show any conversations he ever had with the victim or to prove he indeed had her number.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai