Dubai: The family of an Emirati rapist claims that their younger daughter was on a previously occasion molested by him and they had to lock their individual rooms every night in fear of what he might do next.
"Even though he is in detention now, we are still scared. I have been scared my entire life because of who he is and what he does," one of his stepsisters told Gulf News on Wednesday.
"I am scared the families of the victims he tortured will retaliate or he might influence his friends to harm us."
R.R., 30, who was arrested on the first day of Eid Al Adha for raping and murdering a four-year-old Pakistani child, lived with his stepmother, three stepsisters and two stepbrothers in Al Qusais in Dubai.
According to his step-mother, R.R.'s biological mother passed away while giving birth to him and a year later his father remarried. He had five children with her before he passed away 15 years ago.
"I raised him. I have never ever in my life laid a hand on him or tortured him, as he claimed in one of his court hearings. We gave him everything he wanted — money, food, and shelter," said his step-mother while holding back tears.
According to his youngest step-sister, she was molested when she was around 12 years old. The incident took place before a neighbour's child. R.R. also raped their housemaid. He was convicted for both crimes.
"I didn't tell anyone about it until many years after he raped our housemaid," she said, adding that she was scared.
His step-mother welcomed Gulf News to their house and to the small isolated room where R.R. had been staying for the past year. He was isolated after the troubles and crimes.
The room remained locked after R.R. was arrested, with the last cigarette he smoked and a beer can lying next to his bed.
"It was no longer safe to have him with us in the same house. He stayed in a room isolated by a brick wall. He had his food delivered to him every day and always took money from my mother," said the eldest sister.
His personality was equally described by his family members as aggressive and evil. "I never saw goodness in him. I wish I could know how and why he is like this," she said.
The family's reputation has been significantly damaged with people cutting their relationship with them, including family members.
"I wish people could look at this from our perspective - we didn't believe he was capable of doing this malicious crime. After his previous attempts we thought he learned a lesson. For three years he did not attempt to commit any crimes. I don't hold any grudges or hatred against my alcoholic brother but I don't think he will change," said his second eldest sister.
Most of them said they will visit him if the death penalty is executed but one of his sisters and a brother said they have had it with him. He is out of their lives for good.
