Businessman jailed for groping girl in corridor

Dubai: A businessman has been jailed for five months for hugging and kissing his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter while she was playing in the corridor of her building.

The 36-year-old Bangladeshi businessman, M.R., molested the Egyptian girl in July. When the accused appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance, he pleaded not guilty.

M.R. denied molesting the girl arguing before the court that he did not do any wrongdoing.

Presiding judge Ezzat Mansour said the accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment.

Prosecutors said the defendant abused the fact that the girl was playing alone in the corridor when he hugged, kissed and groped her.

The 10-year-old told prosecutors that M.R. grabbed her and drew her very close to his body.

She was quoted as saying that M.R. kissed her cheeks twice and touched her indecently.

The girl’s father said his wife called him at work and informed him that his daughter had been abused.

“My wife called me at work, but she did not tell me details of what had happened. When I went home, my wife said that my daughter told her that M.R. touched her indecently and kissed her while she was playing in the corridor. My daughter told me the same thing and she added that M.R. molested her a day before. My daughter pointed her finger exactly to the spot where the suspect had groped her. I reported the matter to the police,” claimed the father.

Monday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.