DUBAI // A man who kidnapped, beat and robbed a woman he met online was today cleared of a rape charge - despite admitting he had sex with his victim.
The Criminal Court ruled that AA, a 34-year-old Jordanian manager, was guilty of assault, robbery and kidnap, but not guilty of rape.
He met the woman, a 26-year-old, on a social networking website before the pair agreed to meet sometime in 2010. He picked the woman up and took her to a dinner during which alcohol was served.
They then headed to her flat in Al Barsha, but when they arrived he became violent, beating the woman with an electric cable, threatening her with a sharp implement and stealing her belongings before fleeing.
She also accused him of raping her three times during her ordeal. However, the man told prosecutors that she was prostituting herself and had offered to have consensual sex with him in return for Dh1,835. He said that while they were having sex she bit his chest and tongue so he retaliated by beating her.
The manager was sentenced to 15 months in prison on the three charges and will be deported after completing his prison term.
He faces further charges at the Misdemeanours Court of insulting the woman, damaging her property and consuming alcohol.
The woman also faces a charge of alcohol consumption. She failed to show up at the Misdemeanours Court today to enter a plea.
salamir@thenational.ae
