Dubai worker kisses 8-year-old girl on her lips

A man working for a house-moving company stood trial on Thursday on the charge of molesting an 8-year-old girl while she was alone with her in a room at her place.

The Court of First Instance was told the 23-year-old Pakistani was doing his job at the girl's house when he spotted her playing alone in a bedroom.

Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one else in the room, the worker kissed her on the lips, after which the scared girl immediately ran to her mother.

The man pleaded not guilty to the molestation charge, while his defence lawyer requested a copy of the case file until next hearing. The worker has been placed in detention, and the hearing has been adjourned to March 13.

The complaint was registered on December 17 last year at Al Barsha police station.

Her mother said she had hired a company to move the furniture in her house.

"While the workers were busy transporting stuff in my place I was surprised when I saw my daughter coming to me," the 36-year-old mother, an Austrian teacher, said.

"My daughter was crying and looking afraid of something. She said she was playing in the room when a worker suddenly got close to her and kissed her on the lips. She felt scared and ran out."

The mother called the police right away. The worker was apprehended on the same day and he admitted the charge during the police interrogation and public prosecution investigation.

According to a copy of the girl's ID, she was born in June 2008.

The worker has been placed in detention, and the hearing has been adjourned to March 13.

mary@khaleejtimes.com

Marie Nammour

mary@khaleejtimes.com