Dubai: A driver has been accused of raping a young woman in his home a day after she arrived in Dubai to work as a cleaner.

The 22-year-old Filipina arrived in Dubai on May 24. The 32-year-old Syrian driver, M.N., was said to have raped her on May 25 during her first house cleaning assignment. Prosecutors accused the suspect of taking the Filipina by surprise when she was cleaning his television set before grabbing her from behind, throwing her on his bed and raping her.

The defendant denied the charge before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday. Presiding judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi rejected M.N.’s bail request and adjourned the case to hear prosecution witnesses on October 23.

The Filipina testified that she started working for a building services company on May 25 and the incident happened in the suspect’s Jebel Ali home.

“The defendant opened the door to me and I started cleaning his residence. The deal was to clean for two hours for Dh70. Once I finished, he handed me Dh100 but I did not have change to pay him the balance. I told him that I did not have Dh30 balance because it was my first job. He asked me to keep the change and gave me biscuits, moisturiser and sun cream… then when I went towards the door wanting to leave, he told me that the two hours had not finished. He asked me to clean the television… once I turned my back to clean the television set, he grabbed me from behind and threw me on the bed.

“I tried to push him away and defend myself. I cried and begged him to leave me alone. He was stronger than me… he removed my clothes by force before he raped me. I fought and kicked but I could not stop him. After he finished I ran out and cried hysterically. I called my boss immediately and then my co-worker phoned and I told her what happened. My boss reported the matter to the police,” she said.

An Emirati police lieutenant testified that the alleged incident took place in the suspect’s home at Dubai’s International Media Production Zone.

“The Filipina cried dearly when she claimed that M.N. had sex with her against her will. Once we arrested the driver he denied the woman’s allegations and confirmed that he had consensual sex with her after she seduced him. During questioning, the defendant claimed that the 22-year-old lured him into having consensual sex with him while she was cleaning,” the lieutenant told prosecutors.

The Filipina co-worker confirmed that the 22-year-old was devastated and sobbing when she saw her at her home.