Man denies kidnap and rape of jobseeker

Dubai: A 24-year-old man yesterday denied deceiving and raping a woman who was looking for a job.

Prosecutors said K.M., an Indian who works as a business manager, tricked M.F., also 24, into believing he was taking her to his office for an interview. But, they said, he instead took her to his flat, where she claimed he raped and threatened her.

The accused picked up the victim's CV from a recruitment website and contacted her, the court was told. M.F. claimed he said he would take her for an interview, but instead took her to his residence where he locked her up and raped her. He also allegedly threatened to have his friends gang-rape her if she refused to have sex with him.

"No sir… that is absolutely untrue. It did not happen. I did not kidnap or rape her," said the accused at the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Among the multiple charges against K.M. are kidnapping and deceiving M.F., who came to Dubai on a visit visa to look for a job. He is also accused of forcibly throwing the girl onto a bed, undressing and raping her. The accusations also cover verbal threats to the woman of having her gang-raped by his friends.

"Her claims are unfounded. I did not threaten to have my friends gang-rape her," K.M. told Presiding Judge Maher Salama Al Mahdi.

M.F. testified that the incident happened shortly after she posted her CV on a recruitment website.

"K.M. called and asked me to meet him in Ibn Battuta Mall. My sister and I went there. He claimed he would take me to his company's premises for a job interview. When we reached the place, it turned out to be a residence," she said.

"I called my sister as soon as I suspected something… he snatched the phone away from me and switched it off. My friend called me on my other line… he told my friend everything was OK. Then he switched off my second phone and threw it away. He threatened to have his friends, who were waiting downstairs, gang-rape me if I refused to have sex with him. Then he raped me although I cried and tried to stop him."

Prosecution records said the defendant showed M.F. the way to the washroom. She washed and dressed up. Then K.M. drove her back to the mall. When her sister saw her crying, according to records, K.M. said he didn't do anything to her.

The Filipina sisters reported the matter to the police. K.M. has been asked to hire a defence lawyer when the court reconvenes on March 11.