Dubai: An off-duty police lieutenant has lost his appeal and will spend one year behind bars for molesting a female visitor in his car after he offered to drive her to a mall.

The 26-year-old police lieutenant, K.S., was off-duty when he picked up the 21-year-old Yemeni visitor and drove towards the mall before suddenly diverting from the route.

The couple became acquainted through BlackBerry Messenger.

He parked his vehicle in a deserted and poorly lit area where he tried to have sex with her and molested her in the back seat in August.

The Dubai Appeal Court upheld a one-year jail term against K.S., who was convicted of molesting the woman and attempting to rape her.

Presiding judge Eisa Al Sharif confirmed K.S.’s acquittal of kidnapping the woman.

When he showed up before the appellate court, the defendant pleaded innocent. He denied exploiting the fact that the woman was unfamiliar with Dubai as she was a visitor and kidnapped her using deceit. He also denied any sexual assault.

Meanwhile his lawyer argued in court that the Yemeni visitor willingly rode with his client, who did not try to rape her.

The woman said the incident happened after K.S. texted her on BlackBerry Messenger after 7.30pm.

“He offered to pick me up from my place and drive me to the mall, but I asked him to meet me there directly. Ten minutes later he called and said he was in the parking of my residence. I rode with him in his car to go to the mall. Nearly 40 minutes later, he pulled over in a deserted place. He turned towards me and asked me to hug him but I refused. He hugged and kissed me against my will. I pushed him away. He forcibly removed my clothes and abused me sexually. Then he stopped a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the mall although I had asked him to drop me,” the woman claimed.

Records said the Yemeni reported the matter to the police directly after that.

Police identified the defendant from his car’s number plate.

K.S. said in court that the woman’s allegations about kidnap and attempted rape were fabricated and unfounded.

The appellate ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court within 27 days.