Dubai: A driver, who was cleared of kissing and groping a woman restaurant manager whose beauty enchanted him when he saw her walking in the street after midnight, is again standing trial.

The 31-year-old Filipina was walking home after closing the restaurant that she manages when the 28-year-old Pakistani driver followed her in Al Jafiliya.

The driver allegedly asked the Filipina for her mobile number but she disregarded him and continued walking towards her residence in May.

Once she reached the passageway that leads to her doorstep and was about to open the door, the driver came from behind and kissed on her neck and cheeks, said records.

Taken aback, she tried to push him away but he groped her before running away.

The angered Filipina scolded the driver and chased him and other pedestrians, who had heard her cries for help, stopped him from absconding and kept him restrained.

In July, the Dubai Court of First Instance acquitted 28-year-old man of molesting the Filipina due to lack of corroborated evidence.

According to records, when questioned at the crime scene, the Pakistani said he was amazed by the woman’s beauty before he decided to get her contact details and kiss her.

Prosecutor appealed the acquittal and asked the Dubai Appeal Court to punish him.

When he appeared before the appellate court, the suspect refuted the allegations and asked for mercy.

The woman manager told prosecutors that the incident happened after she had finished work at 1.35am.

“Once he asked me for my mobile number and said he wanted to know me, I neglected him and continued walking home. I did not notice that he had followed me until I reached my doorstep … he took me by surprise and kissed me on my cheek and neck. He also groped me. I shouted at him loudly and pushed him away before he absconded. A number of pedestrians who happened to be around heard me and stopped him from fleeing. Police came and arrested him,” she testified to prosecutors.

A police lieutenant said the suspect claimed that he was enchanted by the woman’s beauty when he saw her walking.

“He admitted that he had asked her for her number but when she refused, he followed her and then kissed and molested her,” he added.

The trial continues.