Cleaner convicted of molesting girl in toilet

Dubai:  The Dubai Court of First Instance has sentenced a Bangladeshi cleaner to six months' imprisonment after he was found guilty of molesting a nine-year-old girl inside the women's washroom at Dubai Festival City.

Presiding Judge Al Saeed Mohammad Barghout said the accused, H.A., will be deported after serving his jail sentence.

Prosecutors accused the 27-year-old defendant of molesting the Egyptian girl by hugging and kissing her on the cheeks and forehead.

The girl claimed in her statement: "He came from behind and cornered me, then kissed me on the right and left cheeks and then kissed my forehead. I yelled at him and ran out immediately and told my mother what happened."

The girl's father testified that the incident happened in the women's washroom inside the prayer room at around 11pm.

"She cried nervously. She [told] me that an Asian man followed her into the washroom and kissed her. We informed the police," the girl's father told prosecutors.

Not guilty plea

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

"I am not guilty. I didn't molest her. I kissed her like I kiss my sister. I gave her a sisterly peck on the cheeks," the defendant said.

When asked during trial why he entered the women's washroom and what was he doing inside, the defendant said: "Sir, I am a cleaner and I was taking the garbage [out]."

Yesterday's judgment remains subject to appeal within 15 days.