Indian worker in Dubai jailed for groping girl

Dubai: A worker who molested a 12-year-old girl while undertaking plumbing services at her parents’ house, has been jailed for three months.

The 33-year-old Indian worker, M.Y., was alone with the Canadian schoolgirl while doing some maintenance work in the washroom when he touched her indecently in November.

The Dubai Court of First Instance convicted M.Y. of molesting the girl despite his having entered a not guilty plea and contending that he touched her by mistake.

Presiding judge Urfan Omar said the accused will be deported following the completion of his punishment.

The girl’s mother testified that the incident happened at their residence in Discovery Gardens.

“We had some problems in the water system and the defendant was sent to do some plumbing and maintenance work. The defendant asked me to get him a nylon bag, so I went to the kitchen while my daughter stayed watching him. While I was still in the kitchen, my girl rushed to the kitchen … she was crying and she told me that the defendant had molested her. I rushed to the washroom and confronted the accused, who instantly apologised for what he had done. Then I asked him to leave the flat. Fifteen minutes later, he came back and rang the bell but I didn’t answer. He left and returned again but I did not answer,” she claimed.

Meanwhile the 12-year-old girl was quoted as telling prosecutors that the accused pretended to be washing his hands before he touched her with his right hand.

The girl claimed that M.Y. apologised to her and alleged that he touched her by mistake before he slid his hand under her shirt and groped her a second time.

The defendant was quoted telling prosecutors that he was joking with the girl when he groped her.

The primary ruling remains subject to appeal.