Man accused of kissing woman, trying to hug her in a lift in Dubai

Dubai - A complaint about the incident was lodged at Bur Dubai police station on September 5.

A Pakistani man has gone on trial for sexually harassing a woman in the lift.
Prosecutors referred the 26-year-old man, a computer operator, to the Court of First Instance to stand trial on the charge of molesting the complainant, a South African woman.
They accused him of kissing the woman's hand and grabbing her back with his hands to hug her against her will.
He denied the charge in court.
A complaint about the incident was lodged at Bur Dubai police station on September 5.
The complainant, a 24-year-old on a residence visa, said she took the lift to go to her office located on the 19^th floor at around 5:40 pm. The accused was also there and walked into the lift with her. It was just the two of them in the lift.
She said that he asked her about her nationality and told her about his. He was supposed to walk out on the 15^th floor, but did not do so. He asked for the complainant's mobile number instead, which she declined to give him.
She told the prosecutor that the defendant wanted to shake hands with her. "I extended my hand but I was surprised to see him kissing my hand. He then moved closer to me, putting his hands entirely around my back and trying to hug me", she added.
He could not hug her as she pushed him away from her and got out of the lift.
She lodged a police complaint against him right away.
It was during the investigation that he admitted to sexually harassing the complainant. The latter has identified him among other suspects at the police station.
The court will pronounce a ruling on November 14.
mary@khaleejtimes.com