Dubai: A cleaner has been accused of molesting his co-worker at the workplace when he groped her while she was carrying her laptop and purse.
The 34-year-old Indian cleaner, L.M., was said to have touched his 28-year-old Filipina co-worker at their workplace in May.
Records said the Filipina scolded L.M., who apologised for his actions.
Prosecutors accused L.M. of molesting the Filipina.
The suspect pleaded not guilty and refuted his accusation when he showed up before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday.
The suspect argued before the court that he touched his co-worker by mistake.
The Filipina claimed to prosecutors that she was about to leave the office when the incident took place around 9.30pm.
“I finished my late shift and went up to the ninth floor to take my laptop bag and purse to leave. The door was locked and so I called up the suspect to open the locked office for me. L.M. came and took out the key and then opened the door … we entered the office together and when I grabbed my laptop and purse, he groped me. Immediately I drew back and asked him angrily why he touched me. He replied that he was sorry. I informed the building’s security guards. Then I informed my work supervisor,” she testified to prosecutors. A police first sergeant claimed to prosecutors that the suspect was arrested instantly following the incident.
“Upon questioning, he claimed that he touched her mistakenly. He alleged that while they were inside the office together, his elbow touched her by mistake,” the first sergeant testified to prosecutors.
Presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi will hand out a ruling on October 26.
