Dubai worker jailed for 6 months for groping secretary

Dubai: A worker, who stalked a woman, lifted up her miniskirt in public and groped her top, has been sentenced to six months in jail.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the 27-year-old Bangladeshi worker, T.I., of sexually molesting the 28-year-old Filipina secretary and breaching her modesty in public.

“The accused will be deported after serving his punishment,” said presiding judge Ali Atiyyah Saad in courtroom three on Monday.

The secretary claimed that as soon as she stepped out of a public bus at Dubai Investment Park, T.I. went down behind her and lifted up her skirt then groped her private parts.

“I did not do such a thing. I was not aware of what happened that day. I was not feeling well,” T.I. claimed when he defended himself.

According to the accusation sheet, the defendant groped the woman’s top and posterior and hugged her.

“When police questioned me, they promised to let me go and drop the case if I confessed. I only confessed because of that, but I am not guilty,” he told judge Saad earlier.

The secretary testified that the incident happened around 8pm when she stepped out from a Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) bus in a station.

“I felt that someone went down behind me and followed me… I spotted the Bangladeshi defendant. He walked far from me for a distance… then someone took me by surprise and hugged me from behind. When I looked back, I discovered that it was the same person. I lost my balance and fell down to the ground … the defendant lifted up my skirt. Then he touched my top and bottom. Immediately I scolded him and cried for help. Some passersby rushed to help me and they restrained him until police arrived,” claimed the Filipina.

Records said some passers-by prevented T.I. from fleeing.

Monday’s verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.