10 years in jail for rape

An Emirati faces 10 years in jail after a court convicted him of raping a woman at knifepoint in front of her son.

The Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday jailed the 20-year-old defendant for 10 years after Presiding Judge Fahmi Mounir Fahmi pronounced him guilty of raping the 24-year-old Filipina housewife.

Prosecutors charged the accused, E.A., with raping the housewife, who claimed she begged him to spare her life and that of her son while being attacked at knifepoint.

The housewife, married to an Emirati, told prosecutors that she had to beg E.A. to spare her life and that of her son.

According to the charge sheet, prosecutors said the accused raped the Filipina, M.J., at knifepoint, stole a mobile phone and Dh150 after entering the house in Al Qusais.

"I woke up suddenly when someone patted my leg… it was E.A. who stood beside my bed and asked to have sex with me. I told him ‘please don't kill me or my son' when he pointed his knife in my face. He undressed and raped me… when I begged him to spare our lives, he said ‘don't worry I won't kill you'," M.J. told prosecutors.

In her statement, she said she remained distressed and nervous for two days before telling her husband.

Prosecution records said after the rape, the suspect walked into other rooms and stole the mobile phone and money.

An Emirati policeman said the accused was arrested five days later. Prosecutors quoted the defendant admitting that he threatened M.J. with the knife before he had sex with her.

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