Dubai: A mechanic has been sentenced to six months in jail for molesting a 14-year-old girl.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 30-year-old Iranian defendant, H.I, of sexually molesting the schoolgirl by groping her private parts. The accused denied the charges.
According to the primary judgment, H.I. will be deported after the completion of his jail term.
“I am not guilty. The schoolgirl’s allegations are unfounded. I did not touch her body,” argued the accused when defending himself before Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi.
Court records said the incident happened when the mechanic asked the mother if he could take photos with her daughter in front of the shop where he sells sweets and herbs in Naif.
According to the charge-sheet, H.I. took advantage of the mother being busy taking photos and molested her daughter.
An Emirati policeman cited the mother claiming that H.I. groped her daughter’s breast and rear while they posed for the photos.
“The mother said the incident happened when the defendant asked her daughter to pose with him for a picture before his shop. The defendant molested the girl immediately when the photos were being taken, claimed the mother.
“When I questioned the defendant, he claimed he was not the shop owner. He said it belonged to his friend whom he happened to be visiting when the incident happened,” claimed the policeman.
The defendant panicked and seemed confused during questioning, according to records.
However H.I. confessed during interrogation that he groped the girl’s private parts.
Prosecution records contained photos of H.I. and the girl.
The girl said the accused stopped them and asked to take photos with her when they passed by the sweet shop.
Court records said the mother noticed that her daughter was embarrassed shortly after they walked away. The mother immediately walked back to the shop and confronted H.I. after her daughter told her what happened.
The accused has appealed the primary verdict and a hearing is yet to be scheduled before the appellate court.
