Electrician jailed for molesting girl

Dubai: An electrician has received a prison sentence for molesting an 11-year-old schoolgirl in the elevator of a serviced apartment building.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 25-year-old Bangladeshi man to one year in jail. He will be deported after serving his term.

The ruling is subject to appeal within 15 days.

'Innocent'

"I am innocent ... I didn't do it," the accused said when he appeared in court for the first time last month.

The Polish schoolgirl claimed that the accused, A.B., followed her after she finished her shopping at a supermarket on the building's ground floor.

"He walked behind me into the elevator and didn't press any button ... I pressed the button for my floor.

Advances

"He stared at me strangely before forcing me into the corner and then hugged and kissed me," the schoolgirl testified.

"He kissed my cheeks and then my lips before he pressed the 12th floor button ... When he left the lift, he gestured for me to follow him but I refused and closed the door," the schoolgirl said.

The girl's father immeditately reported the incident to the police.