Dubai: A jobless man has been accused of groping an accountant who fell asleep on a sofa in a building’s entrance hall while waiting for her friend, heard a court on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Filipina accountant was said to have entered the building where her countrywoman friend lives and sat on a sofa in the entrance hall waiting in March.
While seated on the sofa, the felt sleepy so she snoozed for about 10 minutes, according to records, before she woke up suddenly to a hand caressing her thighs.
The accountant saw a 19-year-old jobless Pakistani touching her thighs and belly. She pushed his hand away and scolded him before he stood up and ran away.
A few minutes later, the Pakistani popped his head from behind one of the walls and signalled her to walk towards him.
The Filipina reported the matter to the police who apprehended the Pakistani in Al Ghusais area.
Prosecutors charged the suspect with groping the accountant.
The suspect pleaded guilty when he showed up before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Wednesday. The Filipina claimed to prosecutors that the incident happened around 3.3pm when she took a nap on the sofa as she waited for her friend.
“I snoozed for five to 10 minutes … suddenly I woke up when I felt a hand touching my thighs. When I opened my eyes, I saw the suspect kneeling down in front of me and caressing my thighs and belly. I scolded him although I was scared. I didn’t call anyone for help because the building’s hall was empty … I was shocked and petrified from what had happened,” she testified to prosecutors.
A ruling will be heard on May 13.
