UAE | Crime
People walk past as woman is attacked
Filipina screams, begs for help as man assaults her physically and sexually on busy Deira street.
- By Siham Al Najami Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:54 July 5, 2009
Dubai: Shocked by being sexually and physically assaulted on a busy street, a 28-year-old Filipina is traumatised, saying, "I can't believe no one bothered to help me."
D.A., who lives with friends in an apartment close to Al Reef Mall in Deira, was scheduled to meet an acquaintance on Tuesday.
She left her apartment earlier than planned as she needed to withdraw money from a nearby ATM, about 30 to 40 metres from where she lives.
"I was wearing knee-length shorts, a T-shirt and slippers. I was walking on a main road at around 8pm with a lot of cars and people passing by. On my way back to the flat, I saw a female acquaintance and an Asian looking man walking close behind her," she said while narrating the exact conversation she had with the passing friend.
"Hello, kakilala mo [Do you know him]?" asked D.A. referring to the trailing man. Her acquaintance replied, "Naku hindi [Oh! No!]."
According to D.A., she and her friend then walked quickly down the street and approached a male compatriot for help. She said in Tagalog: "Big brother, let him go or drive him away ..." But the man did not help her.
At that point, the man following her began to sexually and physically assault her by initially pulling her hair, D.A. explained, adding: "In front of everyone and on a main road, no one, not even the handful of people who were there, bothered to stop him.
"I was too stunned to do anything to defend myself. I forgot everything I knew about self-defence. I did my best to struggle [free] and was just screaming for help and begging for someone to make him stop, while the other girl called for help."
A doorman working at a nearby hotel heard her screams and rushed to help. "He punched the man, God bless him, until he became unconscious," she said.
Officers from the Muraqqabat Police Station soon came and arrested the man, and both women have filed an assault/molestation complaint.
An official from Al Muraqqabat Police Station confirmed the incident but refused to provide details saying the suspect has been detained and his case has been referred to Public Prosecution.
Why do you think people did not help? Were they scared? Or they did not care? Tell us below.
Your comments
if you cant help personally at least ask for someone or call a police. it is inhuman to just watch a lady to be harrass and not do anything to help her.
ms. madette
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 19:14
A harmful effect of media I guess. We have become so used to watching such violence portrayed on the media that we are desensitized to it in real life to the extent that even if someone is being assaulted in front of us we either turn away or just stand and watch.
Ebrahim
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:58
This is not the Dubai I remember. Ten years who, you couldn't imagine such a bold and dastardly act occuring in public.
Zeeshan
Toronto,Canada
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:55
Its SHAMEFUL
Mona
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:22
People nowadays are selfish to a great extent, and its society that has made them that way. We hardly acknowledge our neighbours, how do you expect them to care about a stranger ?
Its very sad and very scary that this issue happened. You cant expect the police to be everywhere. These are advanced times, people are also scared what the criminal person has in his possession - they dont want to be harmed !
Basically its a reflex, and your personality - whether you are a good soul, who will jump to the rescue thinking about a stranger before yourself... Hats off to the Doorman !
Bindu Sathianesan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:00
It's a shame that a bunch of bystanders would just watch and do nothing in such incidents. It's either they don't care or would not want to be in a spotlight especially in a police case like this as they fear questioning or retaliation. Humanity has gone to a new low. No amount of fear should deter anyone from interfering especially when one's life is at stake. I commend the doorman for his heroic acts. God bless you brother.
Nelson F. Bedayo
Jeddah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:49
I believe they're scared.. but they forget how it'd feel if it had been them in the victim's place and yes I'd appreciate if the police can give some guidelines about how to react in such circumstances.
Sam
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:27
It's dissapointing that no one bother to help but at least there still one out there willing to help..Am Thumbs UP for you BRO!!
Janet
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:20
The problem is not that the bystanders were afraid to hit the molester fearing that they might injure themselves, but the real problem lies that the people have fear in their minds of being arrested or being sent to jail by the police for 'taking law in one's hands'. A statement from Dubai police on this issue might help the general public to act in such situations.
Ashwin
Mumbai,India
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:18
i think everybody scared from Police as they dont want to be in any problem for anyone, this is what i think.
salman
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:57
First thing anybody would like to know is, how this man got courage to do such a heinous thing? Was he tempted by their dress code or was he mentally ill? What is the story from man's side? why did he do such a thing, which is rarely heard or seen in Dubai in my 30 yrs experience... There is a saying, that we cannot clap with one hand.
Alex Levis
Bombay,India
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:46
I agree with Leo then. For others, it's better not to get involve in such situation, it may be redefined the other way around and u might get in troble.
Ghie
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:32
I agree with the reader comment as we never know if we get involve in such things and end up with a fight with the stranger and it is might possible the girls get scared with this scene and they may just dissapere from that place and in the end it would be just the stranger and us fighting on the road in this case the police would take action against both the men.
Pervez Kazi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:24
are we not human being anymore? where is our compassion to people who desperately need our help? i pity those ladies for their experience and i'm very angry to those who kept a blind eye to their pleas, esp. to that "kababayan". tell me what would you do if you were the victim here and no one dared to help?
Dennis
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:19
This incident shows how selfish people around us are. Such an incident can happen to anyone of us. We all need to think in a selfless manner at times on humanitarian grounds.
A.D.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:10
Perhaps fear of what may happen to them by the police or fear of the perpetrator. Certainly the doorman is a hero and should be commended. I would do the same. I wish more people would.
Keith Schulze
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:57
You need to train residents to cooperate in such events and work in tandem to deter similar incidences in the future. Dubai Police should do the training. We are a big family in this city called Dubai -- do you watch your sister being attacked and you do nothing?
Hagop Kassabian
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:57
I would like to ask the Police about this Situation, what should a by passer do if such a situation happens to take place anywhere in UAE in the future ? And what if the molester has any weapons with him ?
Ameen
Abu dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:56
i have witness such incedence before also in sharjah.but no one want to involved in such case.if they get some physical fight then police will prison the helping person.
Noushin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:55
People in Dubai is known for their helping nature all over the world.. but this kind of incidence are shame on us. But i think people are much afraid abou consequenses if they involved in such kind of incidence thats why they didnt came forward. as other comment wrote its really intersting to know about that door man ?? what happend to him ? and i will appricate if police can issue a guidline for public to how to react in such kind of incidence. some time its take time to Recive a help from police. so what will be prompt reaction by people on the spot? no need to say the door man was real Hero. and culprit should be punished hard so others will learn from it.
Mahesh Nebhwani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:48
No one is scared of helping but no one know the law very clearly. People are more scared of the consequences of what can follow.
So in short "Mind you own Business"
Faisal Makki
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:44
What a sad state we are living in if we cannot get involved when people are being attacked next to us on the street. I refuse to believe that the police would give you problems for helping a fellow citizen.
Lina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:39
I have been living in this country for the past 30 years and to read this kind of reaction from the public is surely a shame. There were days when a woman could feel no fear to come out even at night, alone. I think people have grown selfish and insensitive to involve themselves in others pain. I hope every lady from this incident become more alert and b able to defend themselves without anyones help.
Rehana Farid
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:35
I agree to the first one that commented, that's the real problem also if you help the lady what will happen to you when the police arrived? So i think the people just afraid to involve in such scenario. You just trying to help but you will also find yourself in deep trouble, whats the use. So the question is how can you help the people in such cases?
Carlo
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:29
he is not doorman he is only heroman, others uselessman who are just watching.
babu razaq
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 15:07
Just like in any other incidents or accidents, most of the people are just staring as if they are watching a movie scene... perhaps they don't really care, since the people involved are unknown to them. But seeing the "harassment" done face to face, it would be too absurd not to help.
Theo
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 14:56
why nobody showed up ??? we are humans and atleast to prove that we should help others, specially in this case men around should have helped her...but it so sad that everyone was just watching and enjoying the scene but didnt had enough courage to help and protect her. The man who saved them is real HERO and i salute him.
Naresh Kumar Devra
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 14:52
I agree with the 1st comment..
Dubai police has to redefine the law and conditions of 'HELP',
either in a case like this or any other socially responsive act.
Hamza
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 14:40
Dubai is a very beautiful place to live in, no room for such criminals
Manoj
Thimphu,Bhutan
Posted: July 06, 2009, 14:22
I would be interested to know what happened to the door-man that came to the woman's rescue ? Part of the problem here is that people are too scared to get involved in these sort of incidents for fear that they will end up in prison themselves. It would be interesting to have feedback from Dubai police on what they expect bystanders to do in this situation - what is an acceptable reaction to such crime, can force be used to stop the criminal ?
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 12:09
its very shameful for those people who passed away d attacked women ... n i heartly appreciate that man who punched him to save her.... HE IS A HERO!!!
Fouzia
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:44
People are different there are people who's initial reaction is to help right away some might think that it might be a trap and most are just scared to dip their finger into something,they just dont want to be involved.
Leo Pineda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:35
i believe they are not intrested or they may be afraid of being attacked and hurt. Although in uae, the police is completely cooperated and secure any one who help or support a victim.
Sara
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:29
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