Tourist guide accused of raping flatmate in Dubai

Dubai - "I could not break loose from him."

A tourist guide has gone on trial on the charge of raping a woman twice after sneaking into her room in a flat they shared.
The 25-year-old Chinese man also allegedly tried to force himself on the victim - also a Chinese national - on another occasion but the woman escaped. 
The defendant has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape in the Court of First Instance.
Both rapes allegedly took place between October 6 and October 31, last year.
The victim, a 20-year-old saleswoman, said the defendant shared the same flat with her and two other women.
"My two roommates left for work on October 6, 2017, while I slept as it was an off-day for me. At around 9:30 am, I taken aback when the accused entered my room, as the door would usually be locked, lay on top of me and raped me.
"I could not break loose from him."
"My friends in China advised me not to report him to the police out of fear that he might be a member of a gang in International City. He raped me again two days later," she added.
She did not report him to the police then because she felt scared and was worried about it turning into a scandal at her workplace.
Around noon of October 31, 2017, she was walking to the balcony when he grabbed her from behind and tried to sexually assault her again.
She tried to get away from him but he punched her twice in the face and kissed her. The woman ran out and rushed down the building to call the police.
By the time the police arrived, the accused had picked up his stuff and left the flat.  
A 20-year-old Chinese female flat mate said she came to know about the rape only after the police arrived at their flat.
A police sergeant said the accused tried to run away when he saw the police officers.
"We nabbed him outside his flat. He tried to get away but in vain. We sought the help of a translator to question him. He admitted to having sex with the woman but claimed it was always consensual. He claimed he went mad the last time as she pushed him away when he tried to have sex with her.
"So he pushed her too," the official added.
The court adjourned the hearing to March 6.
mary@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai