Woman 'agreed to have sex'

Dubai: A rape suspect's lawyer has asked a judge to prosecute his client for having consensual sex with a woman who failed to testify in court despite repeated summoning.

The 33-year-old Canadian woman agreed to have sex with the 30-year-old American defendant, who did not rape or have sex with her at knifepoint, defence lawyer Ali Abdullah Al Shamsi, said before the Dubai Court of First Instance.

According to the Public Prosecution's arraignment sheet, the 30-year-old, a salesman, forced the woman to have sex with him at knifepoint after he stripped her of her towel, which she wore after a shower at his friend's house. His compatriot friend was charged with trying to compel her to drop the complaint.

"I ask the court to drop the rape charge and prosecute him for having consensual sex upon examining the claimant the medical reports confirmed there were no signs of violence...This is clearly not a rape case.." argued Al Shamsi when he defended his client before Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir.