Inmate accused of rape in Dubai Central Jail

Dubai Prosecutors have accused a 23-year-old detainee of raping another prisoner, although the latter claimed that nearly eight suspects gang-raped him.

Jail wardens failed to bring 23-year-old Emirati suspect, H.A., from his detention and produce him before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday.

Chief Prosecutor Khalid Al Zarouni, Head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, has asked for the implementation of a capital punishment against H.A. for forcibly raping the Indian detainee, T.J., in Dubai Central Jail.

An Emirati police corporal testified that T.J.’s lawyer phoned the operator and claimed that seven or eight detainees gang-raped his client.

“I was on duty at the operator section. T.J.’s lawyer informed me over the phone about the alleged incident. I told him that the required legal action will be taken… then I informed my superior [a second lieutenant],” the corporal claimed to prosecutors.

Meanwhile the Emirati second lieutenant testified that the gang-rape incident was alleged to have taken place in the second building.

“I summoned T.J. to take his statement. He claimed to me that he was alone in his cell when four detainees walked on to him. He alleged that they threatened to beat him if he refused to have sex with them. T.J. said he was very scared because he was alone and the alleged abusers outnumbered him. So he was forced to allow them to have sex with him. Thereafter he called his mother from inside the prison and informed her purportedly happened.

“During questioning, he seemed petrified and did not want to pursue his complaint… his main request was to be removed from the suspects. He asked to be moved to another cell. His character also seemed shaken. I took his clothes to send them to the forensic laboratory for examination. When I summoned the alleged suspects, they strongly denied T.J.’s allegations,” the second lieutenant claimed to prosecutors.

The forensic report confirmed that the suspect was used to having sex. The report also said that it was useless to have him examined because several days passed before the incident was reported.

Forensic experts identified the DNA traces of H.A. which were lifted of T.J.’s body but the DNA traces of two other suspects remained anonymous.

Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi said the court will appoint a lawyer to defend the suspect when it reconvenes on March 7.