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19 March 2024

'Abaya' salesman on trial for groping girl

Published
By Eman Al Baik

A Bangladeshi salesman allegedly groped the breast of a 13-year-old girl while she was trying on an ‘abaya’ in his shop, the Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The girl was accompanied by SH, 31, her elder sister, to the shop in Mirdif on September 20. They entered a shop in which where there was no one else except the salesman.

“My sister and I tried on some abayas in the shop. I did not enter the trial room as I did not want to leave my younger sister alone with the salesman. So I tried on an abaya near the door of the trial room and while I was putting it on, I saw the salesman grope my sister’s breast. When I shouted and screamed at him, he claimed he was only fixing the dress she was trying on,” SH said.

The young girl repeated same testimony, saying the salesman tried to fix the lower buttons of the abaya but she did not allow him and did it herself. “However, he did not listen to me when I refused to allow him to fix the abaya’s belt. Suddenly, he groped and pressed my breast. My sister was not in the dress trial room and when she saw him, she shouted at him. He lifted his hand and moved behind the counter before we left the shop,” the victim told investigators.

“My sister and I went out of the shop after staying there for about 20 minutes trying on some abayas. Then I called my husband and asked him to call the police,” said the elder sister.

The woman told investigators that a large number of abayas were hung in front of the shop. The front glass of the shop was covered with dresses so no one could see inside.

A police patrol was rushed to the shop. The accused was very confused and did not know what to say.

The court will reconvene on December 14.