Vendor jailed for groping abaya client
Accused says he touched her by mistake while taking measurements
Dubai: A vendor has been jailed for three months for groping an Emirati woman, who wanted to buy an abaya, while taking her measurements. The incident happened in March 2018 at a shop in Naif.
The woman reported to the police that the accused groped her. When asked if he had groped the woman, the Pakistani vendor said he had touched her by mistake while taking measurements to fit her abaya.
The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted the defendant of groping the Emirati woman.
When he appeared in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty and contended that he touched the woman by mistake while taking measurements for the abaya.
According to the primary judgement, the accused will be deported following the completion of his jail term.
A police sergeant told prosecutors that the accused was apprehended at 11am from the shop.
“The woman was still present in the shop when we arrived. She pointed at the accused and claimed that he had touched her top. Upon confronting him, the defendant said he touched the woman by mistake while taking her measurements for an abaya,” the sergeant said in his statement.
The defendant’s lawyer argued in court that his client did not have a criminal intention and did not intend to touch the woman.
“She walked into his shop to buy an abaya. While he was taking her measurements, he mistakenly touched her top. He did not intend to do so,” defended the lawyer.
The primary ruling remains subject to appeal.