Dubai: Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a manager accused of raping a masseuse after drugging her in a landmark hotel’s massage centre in Dubai.

The 44-year-old Syrian manager, M.R., was said to have put a towel over the 33-year-old Burmese masseuse’s face, she then lost consciousness for 30 minutes during which time he is believed to have raped her at the massage centre of one of Dubai’s most famous hotels in October 2013.

Prosecutors are seeking the implementation of the toughest punishment (death sentence) applicable against M.R. as per article 354 of the Penal Law.

The defendant, who is out on bail, failed to appear before the Dubai Court of First Instance to enter a plea on Wednesday.

The masseuse told prosecutors the incident happened during the massage session.

“Once he arrived, I gave the defendant the required dress to put on. I massaged his back for 15 minutes before he asked for his legs to be massaged. Five minutes later, he told me that he needed to get something from his clothes. I waited for him and kept my eyes glues to the floor and did not watch or see what he took from his clothes. When he went back to the massage bench, I resumed massaging his legs. He asked me for a small towel, when I asked him what he needed it for, he did not answer… I gave him the towel. Five minutes later, he suddenly placed the towel on my face… I lost consciousness and slept for nearly 30 minutes, during which I did not realise what had happened. Once I regained consciousness, the suspect was already dressed and was sitting on a chair. I had a bad and unprecedented pain in my uterus. When I asked him what he did to make me lose consciousness, he did not reply. He simply said ‘I am done’. I did not understand what he meant. Surprisingly, he put Dh1,000 in my hand and left. I suspected that he might have raped me. When I rushed to the washroom where and saw blood in my undergarment, I recognised that he had raped me. I had severe pain. I washed quickly and didn’t inform anybody about what happened. The next day I told my friend what happened, and she took me to the centre and we told our supervisor what happened. Then I reported it to the police,” the Burmese testified to prosecutors.

The friend confirmed the masseuse’s statement before prosecutors.

“She also told me that the suspect asked her not to tell anybody what happened. She cried while she spoke about the alleged rape to the police,” said the friend. Presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi will hand out a ruling in absentia against the suspect on April 29.

Records did not specify why the case was referred to court on Wednesday although the masseuse’s complaint was lodged in October 2013.