Rape convict's life-in-jail term cut to 3 years by Dubai Court of Appeal

A man who had been awarded life in jail term for kidnapping a job seeker and raping her in an isolated sandy area , had his sentence reduced to three years in prison by the Dubai Court of Appeal.

The convict, MSN, 31, Emirati, was accused by the Prosecution of kidnapping IST, 24, Iranian student, from the Dragon Mart’s parking area where he had asked her to come, claiming to offer her a job.

The Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance found him guilty and awarded him life in jail term.

The convict appealed the sentence and the Court of Appeal reduced the verdict down to three years in jail.

According to the records, the convict insisted on IST handing him over her CV personally. When they met at the Dragon Mart parking area, he asked her to get into his car and when she did, he locked the car’s doors and drove to a sandy area where he raped her twice in the back seat of his car on August 2 last year.

Chief Prosecutor Yousef Mohammed Foulath asked the court to award the stiffest penalty under law for the accused.

The victim testified that she first met the accused via a chat website where she said she is badly in need of a job.

“The accused communicated with me and told me that his brother is the director of the Customs Department and that he can arrange a job for me in the department and asked for my CV and a photocopy of the passport.

“When I told him that I will send him the papers by email, he insisted on me giving him the papers personally and gave me his mobile phone number. I called him at around 1pm to arrange a meeting with him. He asked me to come to the parking lot of the Dragon Mart.

“He was very polite while was talking to me, so I felt he is serious in helping me, so I agreed to go and meet him.  While speaking to him, he offered to give me a loan which I refused and told him that I only need a job. But when he insisted, I agreed to accept a loan provided he will accept the same amount later.

“At 8pm, I went by a taxi to the parking lot in front of the main gate of Dragon Mart. He arrived in his Land Cruiser and got off the vehicle. He paid my taxi fare and the car left. I got into in his car but I told him that I stay with my parents and so cannot be late for more than an hour.

“He started talking about the work and took the papers and gave me Dh3,000 as advance payment. Five minutes later he drove into the sands in Al Khawaneej. I started shouting and asked him why he is driving into the sand. He replied that this is a short cut to the main road.

“He suddenly stopped next to a bush, held my hand forcibly and asked me to submit to his sexual desire. I screamed and tried to open the door to run away but the door was locked.  He pulled my seat back and took me out of it to the back seat.  I was resisting him. He said it would be better for me to submit rather than be taken by force. I got scared and submitted to him particularly because he was stronger than me and I lost all my energy resisting him.  He took off his dress and asked me to do the same. He raped and sodomised me,” she testified.

To stop him from hurting her more, the victim told the rapist that she was tired and that she could meet him on the following day.  He agreed,  put on his clothes and drove her back to the parking area of Dragon Mart.

“When he was driving back, I took my papers and dropped the money he gave me in his vehicle. He asked me if I needed the job.  I told him that I don’t need a job anymore and got off his car,” she testified.

The forensic doctor reported that the victim had been subjected to a recent sexual intercourse  and that she has bruises on her body, proving that the intercourse was by force.

Criminal Evidences reported sperms of the accused on her clothes and underwear.

The accused admitted meeting her at Dragon Mart but denied driving her to a sandy area and raping her.
 

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