Dubai: A cleaner has been cleared of molesting his co-worker at the workplace where he allegedly groped her while she was carrying her laptop and purse.
Citing lack of corroborated evidence, the Dubai Court of First Instance acquitted the 34-year-old Indian cleaner, L.M., of groping his 28-year-old Filipina co-worker at their workplace in May.
The Filipina had alleged that she scolded L.M., who later apologised for his actions.
L.M. strongly refuted the Filipina’s claims that he had molested her and contended that touched her by mistake without having any criminal intention.
The Filipina alleged that she was about to leave the office when the incident took place at around 9.30pm.
“I finished my late shift and went up to the ninth floor to take my laptop bag and purse to leave. The door was locked and so I called up the suspect to open the locked office for me. He took out the key and then opened the door … we walked into the office together and when I grabbed my laptop and purse, he groped me. Immediately I drew back and asked him angrily why he touched me. He apologised. I informed the building’s security guards. Then I informed my work supervisor,” she testified to prosecutors.
A police first sergeant said the cleaner was arrested following the incident.
“Upon questioning, he claimed that he touched her mistakenly. He alleged that while they were inside the office together, his elbow touched her by mistake,” the first sergeant testified to prosecutors.
Wednesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
