Clerk pleads not guilty to helping friend molest stewardess in vehicle

Dubai A 24-year-old clerk pleaded not guilty to allegations that he aided his friend in molesting an Emirates airline stewardess in the backseat of a car.

"No sir, I did not do so… I am innocent," the defendant identified as B.M. told the Dubai Court of First Instance. Prosecutors claimed that B.M., a Syrian, closed the car's window and increased the volume of the radio to drown out the victim's cries for help as his friend, M.T., a Lebanese engineer, allegedly molested her.

Prosecutors have charged M.T., an engineer, of sexually molesting M.S. by hugging and kissing and cuddling her against her will. B.M. was accused of aiding and abetting M.T.

Replying to Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latfi Abdul Jawad's question if he did increase the radio's volume, the defendant said: "No, your honour I didn't."

According to the victim, a 23-year-old Japanese identified as M.S., she was waiting for a taxi near her residence in Al Nahda when the two men, who were in a car, pulled over and offered her a lift to the airport.

"They pulled over and offered to take me to Dubai International Airport. I refused because I was waiting for a taxi. "The passenger [B.M.] came out and put my bag in the car. He asked me to sit in the back.

"On the way, they stopped at red signal [and] The suspects exchanged seats. M.T. jumped to the back and groped my private parts. He tried to kiss me and remove my clothes.

"I prevented him from doing so… the doors were locked and the driver [B.M.] increased the music volume so that no one could hear me shout.

"The suspect pinned me down then he positioned his body over mine and molested me. He asked me for money but I refused to pay him anything. Then they dropped me and [they] took off," M.S. told prosecutors.

The prosecution presented a hair sample which was found in the car's backseat as evidence. Court records said the defendants admitted to the charges during police and prosecution questioning. The suspects' lawyers asked for the acquittal of their clients in their written defence petition.

The court is expected to hand down its verdict on Monday.