Italian visitor denies charges of rape

Dubai: An Italian visitor has argued that he only massaged a Filipina and denied her accusation that he imprisoned her in a hotel apartment and raped her twice over a period of three days.

"I am not guilty. I didn't rape her but I only massaged her," argued the 43-year-old suspect when he appeared before the Dubai Curt of First Instance on Thursday.

A 54-year-old Iraqi company owner denied aiding and abetting the visitor, I.M., in imprisoning the 37-year-old Filipina and raping her.

The Public Prosecution charged I.M. and Iraqi S.R., jointly, with locking up the woman, V.S., against her will for three days. I.M. was solely charged with raping her twice. S.R. was charged with aiding and abetting I.M. and threatening to kill the woman if she didn't yield to the Italian's sexual advances.

Promised work

The Filipina claimed that she left her husband and son in the Philippines and flew in to Ras Al Khaimah where she had been promised work as a maid.

"Four days after my arrival the labour agency handed me over to the Iraqi suspect who promised to recruit me as a waitress," said V.S.

"Instead he brought me to Dubai and locked me up in the apartment. Shortly afterwards the Italian walked into the room and raped me in the bedroom during the first day. They locked me up for three days and I.M. also raped me the second day," she added.

She claimed in her statement that she was unable to fight off her abusers and that she failed in her attempts to cry for help and run away from the apartment.

"I cried for three days and repeatedly insisted on the suspects to take me back to RAK. When they took me down to the parking lot, I saw a compatriot and cried out for help," she alleged.

An employee at the hotel confirmed her statement. The trial continues.

The Filipina claimed she left the Philippines and flew in to Ras Al Khaimah where she had been promised work.