Water vendor jailed for molesting pregnant stewardess

Dubai: A vendor who molested a pregnant stewardess in her kitchen when she asked him to fix a five-gallon water bottle on the dispenser, will be jailed for three months.

The Costa Rican stewardess called the water provider and asked them to send a five-gallon water bottle at her flat in Al Garhoud in December.

The bottle was delivered to her apartment by a 24-year-old Pakistani vendor.

Because of her pregnancy, the stewardess asked the vendor to fix the bottle on the dispenser.

The vendor walked into the kitchen to help the stewardess. When the stewardess was emptying the old bottle, the vendor grabbed the woman from back, pulled her towards him, groped her and sexually abused her. The stewardess yelled at the vendor and kicked him out of her apartment.

In February, the Dubai Court of First Instance jailed the defendant for three months for sexually abusing and molesting the victim.

The defendant appealed his primary ruling and pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Appeal Court.

“I work for a company that distributes bottled water to houses. I went to deliver the water bottle to to her flat but I did not molest her,” he told the appellate court.

Presiding judge Saeed Salem Bin Sarm dismissed the defendant’s appeal and upheld his three-month punishment.

He will be deported after serving his jail term.

The stewardess said she asked the defendant to help her fix the bottle on the dispenser because she could not carry it due to her pregnancy.

“While I was emptying the old bottle, he came from behind and pulled me towards him. I turned around and pushed him back. I moved away and instantly ordered him to leave. I was petrified, and did not know what to do. I reported the matter to the police the next day,” she testified.

A police sergeant said the defendant refuted the woman’s allegations and contended that he bumped into the woman by mistake.

The appellate ruling remains subject to appeal before the Cassation Court.