Dubai: A visitor denied groping another man at an upscale pub when he stood trial on Sunday, just three days after being handed a month in jail for flashing his middle finger to that man.
The 37-year-old British visitor was at the pub with friends when he was said to have gotten drunk and groped the German man at the bar in July.
The 47-year-old German reported the matter to the police and, according to records, shortly before the arrival of law enforcement officers, the 37-year-old flicked his middle finger in the complainant’s face.
On Thursday, the Dubai Misdemeanours Court sentenced the Briton to one month in jail for indecently gesturing in public and fined him Dh2,000 for consuming alcohol.
He was also handed a deportation order.
Meanwhile, prosecutors accused the Briton [in a connected case file] of groping the German.
The suspect pleaded not guilty and refuted his groping charges when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
The suspect is on bail since Thursday’s judgement remains subject to appeal.
“Not guilty,” the 37-year-old was heard telling presiding judge Mohammad Jamal in courtroom three.
The 47-year-old man testified to prosecutors that he was out with friends at the pub in Al Barsha when the incident happened.
“The suspect was drunk and he came from behind and groped my posterior. When I asked him why he groped me, he laughed … shortly before the police arrived, he flashed his middle finger at me,” he claimed to prosecutors.
A Jordanian witness claimed to prosecutors that he spotted the Briton patting the posterior of his friend, who was angered with the suspect’s attitude and indecent behaviour.
The suspect’s countryman friend testified to prosecutors: “The 37-year-old’s arm mistakenly hit that of the German and he put his hand around the side of his posterior in an apologetic manner. He meant to say sorry.”
Presiding judge Jamal will hand out a ruling on October 22.
