The Dubai Court of First Instance has sentenced a man to five years in jail for a rape attempt and assault.

According to police reports, last November Camilia Demetrova, a 30-year-old Bulgarian employee, reported to police that the accused, A. I. A., a 24-year-old UAE national army officer, tried to rape her and assaulted her in the building where she lived.

While she was walking back to her home in Mankhoul area from her place of work, she noticed A. I. A. following her in his car. When she reached her building, she hurried inside and pressed the button for the elevator.

The accused parked his car, entered the building and tried to talk to Camilia but she didn't reply. Then he grabbed her and pushed her into the fire escape.

He ripped off her clothes and took off his clothes and tried to rape her. But she fought back and shouted for help even as A. I. A. persisted in his attempt to rape her and beat her into submission.

In the meanwhile, Ibrahim Patchaliant, an Indian watchman, heard the shouting. When he went to check what was happening, the accused put on his clothes hurriedly and ran away. Ibrahim followed him and was able to note down the car number.

When the police arrived, they started questioning the victim and Ibrahim, who gave them the number. They arrested A. I. A. at his house in Satwa area.

During investigations, the accused confessed that he had tried to talk to Camilia but he denied attempting to rape her. Later, the victim and Ibrahim identified the accused from a police line up.