Parents urged to be vigilant

Dubai: Parents have been urged to observe their children's safety more vigilantly against sex predators although a chief prosecutor described child molestation as a crime which is alien to UAE society.

Dubai is a big city which houses tens of multi-nationalities and multi-community members living away from their homelands, and a few of those individuals consume liquor, become sex predators and molest children, said Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Ali Rustom Bu Abdullah, Head of Family and Juveniles Prosecution, yesterday.

"Child molestation is almost unfamiliar in our society. Such cases are relatively low compared to neighbouring countries. Thanks God our country is safe… but still there are some exceptions like in any other country. Dubai is a big city which houses multi-nationalities… we have individuals who are living far away from their homelands and families. Some of them get drunk and commit different crimes such as molesting children," Bu Abdullah told Gulf News.

His remarks came in light of this week's case of a 30-year-old suspect who allegedly raped a five-year-old boy and allegedly killed him in a mosque's washroom last Friday.

Bu Abdullah urged parents to be more watchful concerning their children's safety and wellbeing, especially against sex predators. Parents should keep monitoring their children in way that doesn't scare them or limit their freedom. "In other words, give them their freedom but, concurrently, keep them under their observation to protect them against any potential molester. Parents should also allow grown ups to escort their kids to any unfamiliar or strange places. Fathers and mothers are also invited to teach their children (according to their age and level of understanding) to keep away from potentially dangerous people such as strangers, drunkards, indecent-looking men, men groupings, individuals who seem impolite and most importantly away from unfamiliar individuals," explained the chief prosecutor.

Bu Abdullah said parents play a distinctive and major role in cautioning their children to stay away from such individuals.

"How? They do so through advice, enlightenment, proper guidance, awareness and most importantly teaching children to obey their parents. The UAE Federal Penal Code is stringent and deterring enough to combat child molestation… however, court judgments are based on a judge's discretion and consideration for circumstantial evidence of each case singly," deliberated the chief prosecutor.

Advocate Eisa Bin Haidar said lack of knowledge makes innocent children more vulnerable to sex predators.

"Parents must teach and prepare their children [in a simple and friendly manner] to face such situations and that they have the right to say no to anyone, even adults, who try to violate their modesty or touch them indecently, unsafely or uncomfortably," said Bin Haidar.

He encouraged parents to guide their children to stay away from strangers and avoid standing in construction sites, warehouses and bachelors' accommodation.

"Children are weak and wont report such offences out of fear. Their statements before law enforcement officers will be deemed as weak and that's why most offenders run away with a light judgments. That's why parents should teach their kids to be obedient and be more watchful whenever they go out. Families must teach their children not talk to or be around strangers," cautioned Bin Haidar.

Some of the cases

Nov 27, 2009
Dubai: Prosecutors are questioning a 30-year-old man who allegedly sodomised and killed a five-year-old boy inside a mosque’s washroom in Al Qusais.

Aug 02, 2009
Dubai: A 54-year-old Iraqi teacher, who is charged with molesting F.J, a 15-year-old female Emirati student.

April 15, 2008
Dubai: A 28-year-old Indian coach is in the dock on charges of molesting a 5-year-old girl during a martial arts class.

April 13, 2008
Dubai: A schoolboy has claimed that a cleaner harassed him 14 times in the school’s washroom and his ordeal didn’t stop until the 15th occasion.

April 6, 2008
Dubai: The highest court in Dubai confirmed the 15-year jail term handed to two Emirati men who kidnapped a 15-year-old French boy and had sex with him against his will.

February 26, 2008
Dubai: A new case of two Emirati men who kidnapped a 15-year-old Emirati schoolboy and had a forceful homosexual affair with him floated in a Dubai court.

December 11, 2007
Two Emirati men have been sentenced to 15 years in jail after being found guilty kidnapping a 15 year old French boy and raping him in the desert.

June 12, 2007
Sharjah: Parents of a seven-year-old girl have complained that their daughter was molested by a teacher at an Indian music-and-dance institute in Sharjah.

June 3, 2007
Dubai: A 16-year-old boy has claimed that two men raped and molested him, but a policeman said he was having a sexual affair with one of them, a court heard.

May 31, 2007
Dubai: A gardener will spend 25 years in jail for attempting to rape and molesting a seven-year-old schoolboy, who refused to go to school thereafter, a court ruled.

May 14, 2007
Dubai: A waiter is on trial for molesting a little girl at the arrival terminal at the Dubai International Airport.

May 08, 2007
Dubai: A drunken man who molested his 3-year-old niece and performed oral sex on her, will spend three years behind bars, a court ruled.

April 24, 2007
Abu Dhabi: A 50-year-old man who molested a boy in Abu Dhabi, will serve six months in jail followed by deportation, the apex court has confirmed.

March 26, 2007
Dubai: A seven-year-old schoolboy is refusing to return to school after claiming a school gardener repeatedly molested him and also twice tried to rape him.

March 4, 2007
Dubai: A court has confirmed a sentence of a year’s imprisonment against a policeman who was found guilty of molesting a 12-year-old schoolgirl, though her parents had waived their charges.

February 21, 2007
Sharjah: Parents of a primary school pupil have alleged that their daughter was molested by a school bus conductor who was arrested by Sharjah police.

February 20, 2007
Dubai: An illegal worker will have to spend one year in prison for dropping his pants before an eight-year-old schoolgirl and asking her touch his private parts.

February 15, 2007
Dubai: A man is standing trial for kidnapping and raping a 10-year-old schoolgirl.

January 30, 2007
Dubai: A policeman has been jailed for molesting a 14-year-old girl in the back seat of his car after meeting her over the internet.

January 09, 2007
Ras Al Khaimah: The Criminal Court sentenced a 28-year-old Indian to three years in jail for molesting an 11-year-old Bangladeshi girl.

November 28, 2006
Dubai: Four men will have to spend one year in jail each for gang-raping a schoolboy inside a villa, a court ruled.

November 27, 2006
Ras Al Khaimah: The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to three years imprisonment followed by deportation for molesting an eight-year-old girl.