Rape accused denies charges

The Dubai Criminal Court yesterday heard two cases, one wherein an Emirati is accused of kidnapping and raping a Filipina and the other of an Emirati charged with sexually harassing a patient at a hospital.

In the first case, a 31-year-old civil servant, ER, is charged with kidnapping and raping ML, a 23-year-old waitress from the Philippines. The woman testified that she was introduced to ER during a party at her friend's flat in Satwa. She said that while she was waiting for a taxi after the party, the defendant offered to give her a lift. ML got into his car with her friend named A.

When they arrived at her place, the friend got out of the car while ML asked ER to return her labour card, which he had allegedly taken from her during the party. She said he asked her to get into the car because he wanted to talk to her. ER allegedly took the Filipina to a dark area where he assaulted and raped her. He then took the woman back to her residence and threatened to kill her and her family if she informed the police.

The defendant, on bail, denied the charge yesterday, and his lawyer asked for time to study the case. The court adjourned the case until June 2.

In the second case, MI, 34, guard, denied his charge of sexually harassing a patient at Rashid Hospital.

DK, a nurse at the hospital testified that MI asked her to leave the room where a comatose patient, MA, was being treated. The nurse said when she looked through the keyhole she saw him kissing the patient. The next morning she allegedly saw him sleeping beside the patient. The court adjourned the case to May 27.