Driver jailed for groping visitor, kissing her hand

Dubai: A driver has been jailed for six months for groping a nurse and kissing her hand while driving her from the airport.

The 34-year-old Egyptian driver, S.S., groped the 25-year-old Korean nurse, who had just arrived to Dubai as a tourist, and held her hand and kissed it twice while driving her from Al Maktoum International Airport in August at 4.30am.

He also charged her Dh62 extra for the ride.

The Dubai Court of First Instance jailed S.S. three months for molestation and three months for embezzlement.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said: “The accused will pay a fine of Dh62 and will have to repay the same amount that he had embezzled. He will be deported after serving his punishment.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors said the accused abused the fact that the Korean woman was seated in front when he molested her. He also embezzled Dh62 from the Roads and Transport Authority [where he worked].

The nurse said she took the driver from the airport and asked him to drop her at Oud Metha.

“I took the front seat because I wanted to see Dubai’s landmarks during the ride. He chatted with me for a while before he told me that I was good-looking. The defendant asked to touch my hand but I refused. Suddenly he grabbed my hand and kissed it. I let go of his hand quickly and asked him not to do that again. I was so scared. Ten minutes before we reached our destination, he pulled over in a poorly lit area. When he tried to grab my hand again, I pulled it away. Then he placed his hand on my thigh and top. I pushed him away and ordered him to take me to the hotel. I was too frightened to cry for help as we were in a deserted place and it was very late and dark. He overcharged me Dh62 than the initial tariff. I reported the police once I reached the hotel,” she testified.

A policeman said they identified the defendant from his contact number that the Korean woman provided them.

“S.S. admitted that he groped the woman and touched her hand and kissed it against her will. But later when he did it the second time, according to his statement, he claimed that he was apologising. The woman claimed that the accused kissed her hand 10 times,” the policeman testified.

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