Carpenter cleared of molesting woman in Dubai

Dubai - He was accused of putting his arms around the complainant's shoulders and trying to hug her.

A 28-year-old man, who was accused of sexually harassing a woman resident in a building elevator, has been cleared of the charge by a Dubai court.
The Pakistani man, working as a carpenter, was accused of putting his arms around the complainant's shoulders and trying to hug her. The Court of First Instance found him not guilty of the charge. He earlier denied the charge in the court.
The incident was reported to Naif police station on March 7.
The complainant, a 42-year-old Chinese, said she closed her shop in the Naif area around 11.30pm. "I was walking home when I suddenly noticed that someone was following me. I could tell from his clothes he was Pakistani."
He stood waiting for the elevator with her. She walked inside and he got there too. "All of a sudden, he wrapped his arms around my shoulder. I pushed him away as I yelled loud at him to know what he wanted. He replied he wanted me," she said.
The complainant rushed out. A neighbour, who came after hearing her screams, did not witness the incident, she claimed.
A policeman said they received a report about a sexual harassment incident of a Chinese woman inside an elevator of a residential building in Al Nakheel area on March 8.
"We went to the building and checked the CCTV cameras placed in the lift and outside as well. We circulated the suspect's picture among law enforcement forces.
"The man was caught on the same day. He denied he knew the woman or having anything to do with her. He also denied having been at the building on the incident day," the officer told the prosecutor.
The complainant identified the defendant as the man who hit on her when his picture was sent to her. The CCTV footage used to trace the defendant was enclosed to the case file as evidence.
The court ruling may still be appealed by the public prosecution.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai