Teacher jailed for indecent behaviour

Dubai: A teacher has been jailed for three years after a court convicted him of molesting and kissing a 15-year-old schoolgirl inside the school's kitchen, while she was fixing herself a hot drink.

Prosecutors accused the 54-year-old Iraqi teacher of chasing the 15-year-old Emirati schoolgirl to the school's kitchen where he molested and kissed her against her will.

The Dubai Court of First Instance incriminated the accused, S.A, of molestation. Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad said the accused will be deported after serving his jail term.

According to the arraignment sheet, S.A. spotted the schoolgirl as she walked into the kitchen before he following her. He took her by surprise and grabbed her neck before he kissed her and forced her to kiss him as well; he then molested her. The schoolgirl testified that the teacher molested her when she went inside the kitchen to fix a hot drink because she had a stomach ache.

Offered free lessons

"The minute he walked into the kitchen he started talking about my low grades in chemistry and biology... he offered to give me free private lessons and handed me his contact number. I told him I would discuss the matter with my parents. Suddenly, he walked towards me and molested me. Then he touched me indecently before he walked out. I rushed back to my class and cried in front of my classmates," claimed the 15-year-old.

The schoolgirl's elder sister testified that the victim was crying and seemed pale when she returned from school.

"She showed me the paper on which the accused had written down his mobile number. She told me that he molested her inside the kitchen and that she told her classmates what had happened," added the sister.

Records said the accused confessed that he kissed the schoolgirl on her forehead and asked her to kiss him. Yesterday's verdict is still subject to appeal within 15 days.