Dubai: A gardener has been jailed for six months for molesting a woman while she was exercising in a public park in Dubai.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 25-year-old Pakistani gardener, L.M, of molesting the Emirati woman by hugging her while she was jogging in Nad Al Shama Park.
“The accused will be deported following the completion of his jail term,” said Presiding Judge Ali Atiyyah Saad.
“Yes I am guilty. I hugged her from behind while she jogged,” L.M. told the court.
The 42-year-old woman testified that the incident happened when she was exercising at the special running track in the park.
“It was 7.40pm when I felt quick footsteps behind me. I noticed that the person who walked behind me increased his pace when I increased my walking speed. I felt that the person came very close to me from the back and grabbed my shoulders. Then he drew his body very close to mine from the backside.
“Immediately I turned back and shouted at him. When he ran away, I called the people around me for help. A few individuals chased and stopped him. Police took him in for questioning,” claimed the woman.
Prosecution records said the claimant identified the defendant at the police line-up.
A Sudanese policeman said he could not take the woman’s statement because she was hysterical.
The primary judgment remains subject to appeal within 13 days.
