Police will not dismiss rape case due to delay

Dubai: Dubai Police will not dismiss crimes of a serious nature, such as sexual abuse or rape, even if they are reported late, officials assured, urging residents to reach out to police if they are ever in need.

"Dubai Police accept complaints of sexual abuse or rape no matter when they happened. It doesn't matter if the incident occurred three months or three years ago, the victim can still come forward and file a complaint at any police station," Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Director of the CID at Dubai Police, told Gulf News in an interview.

His comments came after parents of a 4 year old waited two months before reporting that she was raped by three men on her school bus. The incident happened on November 11 and was reported to Dubai Police on January 9.

The case is still being investigated by police, as forensic experts have yet to give a report based on the forensic samples extracted from the clothes worn by the child on the day the alleged incident happened.

Forensic evidence

"We are still investigating the forensic evidence and the case has been referred to the public prosecution. The three suspects already confessed to their acts as well," said Al Mansouri.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is the government body whose guidelines govern the policies in Dubai on safety of children on buses.

According to the RTA, their guidelines issued in 2008 do not specify that buses transporting female students need to employ female attendants.