Crowd watched sexual attacks, court told

DUBAI // Dozens of passers-by stood and watched as two women were sexually assaulted in the street, a court was told yesterday. A Filipina journalist, 28, and her 27-year-old friend, an engineer, said they were attacked by KB, a security guard, in Salahuddin Road, Deira. "I saw the defendant come and stand behind my friend suspiciously," the journalist said. "I suggested we move away. He smacked my bottom and we ran off."

KB allegedly chased the women and grabbed the engineer, then assaulted her. The journalist said: "She was fighting with him on the floor for 10 minutes in front of 40 people. Everybody just watched and did not interfere." The incident happened around 8pm on June 30. Mohammed Mounir, 29, a hotel worker, told prosecutors he went to investigate after hearing screaming. He said there were 30 to 40 people watching the incident. "I had to interfere to break it up," said Mr Mounir.

At the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, KB, 35, denied sexually assaulting the two women, saying he was unaware of his actions. "I was just released from hospital. I was on medication," he told the court. Court reports said psychological tests showed that KB was free of any psychiatric ailments. The court will issue its judgment on November 16. amustafa@thenational.ae