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Pilot on trial over advances on teenage girl inside lift

DUBAI - A 29-year-old pilot was charged with molesting a teenage girl, 14, in the Court of First Instance on Sunday.

The pilot from Seychelles allegedly touched the girl’s face and tried to hug and kiss her inside the lift when she went for Arabic private lesson. The girl, an American, told the prosecutor that the incident happened in March in a residential building in the Knowledge Village.

According to court records, it was shortly before noon when she walked into the lift and the defendant also took the lift at the same time. He pressed on the button of the 21^st floor while she was going to the 31^st.

Surprisingly, he did not walk out of the lift when it reached the 21^st floor. He suddenly got closer to her and touched her face. She pushed him away. He then tried again to pull her towards him to kiss and hug her. But, again she pushed him away. On the 31^st floor she walked out after him and rushed to inform her teacher.

A police sergeant said that he knew from the girl’s father that someone sexually harassed her. The sergeant reviewed the lift’s CCTV footage and it corroborated the girl’s claims. When checking with the building watchman, he said that he knew the man showed in the CCTV footage. The watchman told the police that the defendant worked as a pilot. The girl recognised the defendant in a police identification parade of suspects.

The girl’s father, a 53-year-old businessman, said that he was informed by the teacher about the incident. He filed a police complaint after talking to the watchman.

The Public Prosecution used the report of the General Directorate of Criminal Evidence, including the CCTV footage as part of the evidence it provided the court with.

It showed the defendant touching the girl’s face and then trying to get closer to her. He remained facing her until she reached her floor.

mary@khaleejtimes.com