Girl, 14, charged with consensual sex with school bus driver

ABU DHABI // A 14-year-old Brazilian girl was charged with consensual sex and her school bus driver charged with raping her after the girl's parents told police she had been assaulted. Both denied the charges when they appeared at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court of First Instance. MH, a 28-year-old Pakistani, went to the girl's home on April 4 when her parents were in Dubai, prosecutors told the court.

What happened inside the flat was disputed. The girl said MH raped her, but the driver said he was invited inside by the girl, who then seduced him. According to court records, the maid of the girl's family learned about the incident and informed the parents, who called the police. The girl was charged with consensual sex after prosecutors found - from her testimony as well as that of the maid - that it would have been difficult for the driver to get into the flat without the girl's consent.

Thirty seven days after the incident, the girl was tested at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's forensic unit, the driver's lawyer said. The girl was accompanied to court by her parents. She was released on bail. MH was remanded in police custody. Even if the girl is found guilty of consensual sex, MH would still be charged with statutory rape, because the girl is younger than 18, the age of consent.

@Email:hhassan@thenational.ae