Dubai: A businessman has been cleared of assaulting and groping a teacher in the elevator of her building after her birthday party.
The 28-year-old Pakistani businessman, H.S., had denied before the Dubai Court of First Instance the charge of assaulting the 23-year-old British teacher and molesting her in a building in the Tecom area in May.
Citing lack of corroborated evidence, presiding judge Mohammad Jamal acquitted H.S. of molesting the Briton, who had alleged that the incident happened after she returned home from her birthday party late at night.
“I did not molest her or touch her… I am not guilty,” the businessman said in court.
Prosecutors charged H.S. with molesting the woman and punching her.
The teacher alleged to prosecutors that the incident happened at 2.15am.
“As I walked into the building’s entrance, I saw the suspect waiting for the elevator. He waited for me to reach it. He pressed the button for the 27th floor while I pressed the one for the 26th floor. Once the elevator started moving, he pressed the ‘stop’ button... He grabbed my left arm and punched me in the face. Then he grabbed my neck and put his hand inside my clothes. I resisted as hard as I could and managed to get the elevator to stop on the 17th floor. I jumped out and cried for help. Neighbours came out and the suspect ran away,” she claimed.
A policeman claimed that the man was eventually arrested when he returned to the building to visit a friend.
During the trial, the man countered what he described as the Briton’s unfounded and baseless allegations.
The lawyer contended that law enforcement procedures were implemented unlawfully against his client. He asked the court to dismiss the case against his client.
Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
