Teenager's rape case hearing held

Dubai: The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday began studying the case of a 15-year-old boy who claims he was raped by three suspects, one of whom is HIV positive.

The hearing was held behind closed doors upon the request of the victim's lawyer Hussain Al Jaziri.

The suspects, all Emiratis, are standing trial for luring the French teenager into their vehicle, driving off to the desert and gang-raping him at knifepoint. The next hearing is on Sunday.

Dr Ahmad Bin Hazeem, Director of the Dubai Courts Department, yesterday told Gulf News that what the mother of the boy did outside courtroom No 4 by telling the media that she is planning to change the criminal laws in the emirates concerning under-age victims no matter how long it takes, is being pre-judgemental towards the judicial system.

He said: "We understand her situation on humanitarian grounds. She is pre-judging our judicial system which does not cave in to media pressure. The reporters who were interviewing her should judge whether to write what she says."