Boss to be jailed for sexually harassing trainee in UAE

Ras Al Khaimah - He was also charged with offering her money (Dh500) to have sex with him in violation of the law.

An employer has been sentenced to three months in jail by the RAK Criminal Court for sexually harassing a trainee employee.
The accused, cleared of sexually abusing the plaintiff and condoning sins, will be deported after serving the jail term.
As per court records, the woman told the court that the suspect threatened to terminate her service unless she agreed to have sex with him.
"He offered me Dh500 to have sex with him, or else he would fire me from my job."
The defence lawyer, however, claimed that the police investigations were unfounded. "They only contained the victim's allegations with not a single proof to support them."
Court records show that the public prosecution had charged the defendant with harassing the victim, touching and hugging her against her will. He was also charged with offering her money (Dh500) to have sex with him in violation of the law.
The accused denied the charges altogether, while the defence lawyer told the court that the woman fabricated the charges because of the assessment report his client wrote against her.
He said she failed to meet the due requirements despite her five-month training, and recommended that she got fired. He added that both the victim and her husband work at the same company, and it did not sound reasonable for her boss - his client - to harass her.
The defence lawyer always underlined the contradictions of the victim's statement during police and the prosecution interrogation, leave alone the company internal investigations.
"There is not a single prosecution witness to support the plaintiff's claims," he pointed out, requesting the exoneration of his client. The court first ordered adjournment of the case for the final verdict, and then gave the said ruling.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah