Girl, 12, molested while left in car, Dubai court told

A young girl left in a car with her six siblings was molested by a man who stuck his arm through the open window, a court heard today.

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DUBAI // A young girl left in a car with her six siblings was molested by a man who stuck his arm through the open window, a court heard today.

Prosecutors told the Criminal Court that the 12-year-old Emirati was left with her three younger brothers and two sisters in the car park of the Festival Centre in Dubai Festival City.

The girl told prosecutors that her mother opened the windows of the car and turned off its engine so that the children would not play with the vehicle's controls. The mother then headed to the centre.

The girl said she noticed an Indian man watching the car. He then approached and stood alongside the vehicle, asking the children what their names were. None of them answered him.

"He then stretched his hand through the window and touched my chest," said the girl. She slapped his hand and he ran away.

When her mother returned the girl explained what happened and the mother told her husband, who called the police.

The man was later arrested and identified by the girl.

He denied a charge of sexual assault when he appeared at the Criminal Court.

A verdict was scheduled for October 21.

salamir@thenational.ae