Watchman jailed for molesting tenant

Dubai: A watchman was jailed for a year yesterday for pinning down and molesting a tenant.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted 38-year-old Pakistani, J.H., of sexually molesting the 22-year-old Chinese worker by groping his private parts, although the victim earlier dropped his complaint.

J.H. will be deported after serving his sentence.

"I did not touch or molest him… I am not guilty," said J.H. when he defended himself in court.

His lawyer handed the court a written waiver from the victim.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors accused J.H. of groping the worker and molesting him.

J.Y. said the incident happened when the defendant came to his flat claiming he wanted to take some measurements.

"I was alone. I opened the door… he walked in saying he wanted to take the measurements. I went back to my bed and slept because I was exhausted," J.Y. said.

"When he asked me to help him, I told him I wanted to sleep because of exhaustion.

"He came to the bed and offered to massage me. I refused and asked him to move away. He insisted on massaging me… he placed his hands on my back and massaged me. Then he groped my buttocks.

"When I asked him to leave, he locked the door and came back to me. He pinned my neck so I could not move and massaged me again. Then he removed my clothes and molested me. I shouted at him and he stood up and put his clothes back on. He continued taking the measurements and left."

The judgment is subject to appeal within 15 days.