Teacher says student tempted him for high grades

Dubai

A teacher accused of molesting a 17-year-old schoolgirl told a court on Sunday that she had tried to tempt him so as to get high grades.

The Lebanese chemistry teacher, O.M., denied charges of kissing and molesting the Canadian teenager in the school at Al Garhoud in May.

Requesting permission to defend himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance, O.M. contended: “She maliciously accused me of molesting her after I refused to give her high grades. The girl is new in school had only been there for a month when she started enticing me and tempting me in order to make me give her high grades ... that’s something against my ethics and won’t ever do such an unacademic thing and give a student undeserved grades. She wanted to be close to me just for that.”

Records said the suspect teacher showed the girl several photos that he claimed he took with the victim’s classmates because it was his birthday.

Prosecutors said the suspect abused the fact that he was alone with the girl in the classroom when he groped and kissed her.

Addressing himself before presiding judge Mohammad Jamal, the suspect argued: “Sir I had been teaching in that school for three years. I have never been involved in any wrongdoing and have a good record. I taught more than 120 students a year and more than 270 students had graduated since I taught them. I also give private lessons to daughters of high profile people such as a famous lawyer and that of an ambassador. Had I indulged in such an unacceptable behaviour, the school would’ve at least warned me or moved me to the boys’ section.”

The suspect’s lawyer also asked the court to clear charges against his client for lack of evidence.

“It would have been impossible for the teacher to have committed such an act because the classroom’s door has a glass window that allows anybody from the outside to see inside,” argued the lawyer.

The student told prosecutors that the incident happened after the teacher had dictated notes to her.

Records said the defendant’s mobile phone contained photos of him with some schoolgirls.

M.N. was quoted as telling prosecutors that he had been joking when he touched her back and stomach.

A verdict is expected next month.