Dubai: A man who committed a lewd act in public and molested a Dutch woman tourist while she was watching the Dubai Fountain show at The Dubai Mall, will be jailed for three months.
The 31-year-old Jordanian, M A, committed the act in November.
The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the defendant to three months in jail for the offence.
According to Tuesday’s ruling, the defendant will be deported following the completion of his punishment.
M A had initially entered a not guilty plea and contended that he was not aware of what happened that day.
When asked what happened, the defendant argued: “I don’t know what happened to me then. I was not myself and I did not recognise what happened to me.”
He also denied drinking alcohol.
The Dutch woman told police officers that she was watching the aqua musical show when she felt the defendant pressing himself against her.
“The open area was packed with tourists watching the water show. I felt the accused behaving indecently and bizarrely behind me a number of times. I turned round quickly and, when I noticed what he was doing, I shouted at him. Then I hit him on his shoulder … he walked away. I informed the nearest security guard at the place. An hour later, I bumped into the defendant at the same location [as] before I called the security,” she claimed.
Dubai Police’s forensic evidence report confirmed that traces of semen that were lifted from the woman’s clothes were M A’s.
When questioned by prosecutors, the defendant admitted that he molested the woman and committed a lewd act in public.
Tuesday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
