Jobless Emirati jailed for rape bid on salesman in Dubai villa

Dubai - "He insisted on having my personal number, sent me messages on WhatsApp later."

A 27-year-old man, who tried to sexually assault an 18-year-old salesman after luring him into his villa in Dubai, was sentenced to one year in jail on Tuesday.
According to public prosecution records, the jobless Emirati man befriended the Syrian teen and then lured him at a very late hour to his villa where he locked the doors and tried to force himself on him. He told him he had a criminal record to intimidate him. 
The Court of First Instance found him guilty of attempted sexual assault with the use of force.
The incident, which took place on December 2, 2017, was reported to Al Qusais police station.
The complainant said he first met the accused when the latter came to the shop, where he worked, to buy a mobile phone accessory. "He insisted on having my personal number. He continued to send me messages on WhatsApp later. He would offer me food and money but I would always refuse and thank him," he said.
"On December 1, 2017, he came to the shop and waited for me until my shift was over around midnight. He distracted me until the staff bus left without me. He then offered to drop me home. On the way, he invited me to dinner with his friend at a 'junk food' restaurant."
The salesman told the prosecutor the defendant took him later to his villa. "After we entered his room - annexed to the villa - he locked the door. He showed me his scarred arms saying that he had been in jail. The man added he had a criminal record and connections in the police. He told me to let him have sex with him or he would bring his five friends to gang-rape me.
"However, I could somehow run to the door, I opened it and climbed up the villa's wall. I called my friend seeking help. The defendant was driving his car around looking for me."
The complainant said he was afraid to report the defendant to the police at first but complained against him at 2am on December 3, 2017.
The friend's father, a Syrian businessman, said the victim was living in their house. "He called at 2:47am seeking our help. He sent his location on WhatsApp. When we drove to look for him, we found him scared and shaking."
A police lieutenant said the defendant denied the complainant's accusations. "He admitted he invited him over to his place in Al Mizhar but claimed he found him looking in his wallet and stealing Dh100. The defendant had a criminal record in theft, drugs and similar sexual assault cases."

mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai