Dubai boss jailed five years for attempted rape

DUBAI // A boss who tried to rape his female employee has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Criminal Court.

KS, a 37-year-old Emirati, had invited the woman, a 25-year-old Spanish sales executive, to dinner at the Premier Inn at The Gardens on December 6, 2010, to celebrate her planned trip home for the New Year.

They met at 8pm and both drank alcohol throughout the evening before she decided to go home at about 11pm. The boss insisted on driving her, but rather than taking her home he drove to a remote area, took her mobile phone and attacked her.

He slapped her several times before ripping off her clothes and trying to rape her but she resisted fiercely and managed to get out of the car before running naked into the dark.

A lorry driver noticed her running down the Dubai Bypass Road near the Fruits and Vegetables Market and stopped to help, giving her clothes and lending her his mobile phone to call her friend. They then met the friend, who took the woman to a police station.

A medical report confirmed she suffered a minor head injury and had scratches on her chest, neck, upper back, forehead and nose.

Her boss denied charges of kidnap, attempted rape and physical assault when he appeared at the Criminal Court and claimed they had not been together on the night in question. "How could I assault her if she was not with me," he said.

However, the hotel's security cameras showed the woman getting into her boss's Nissan Patrol on the night of the attack.

The court also ordered the boss to pay Dh20,100 compensation to the woman and Dh1,000 in legal fees. The woman has the right to file a civil case and seek further compensation.

salamir@thenational.ae