Man jailed for rape has term reduced after Dubai court rules sex was consensual

A man convicted of rape had his six-month jail term reduced to three months after the Appeals Court ruled the sex was consensual.

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DUBAI // A man convicted of rape had his six-month jail term reduced to three months after the Appeals Court ruled the sex was consensual.

MH, 25, from Syria, took OP, 30, from Moldova, home to his apartment after meeting her at a nightclub in the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa hotel on December 15 last year.

She claimed that she got in the cab with him because she hoped to be dropped off on the way, but that he convinced her to follow him to his apartment while he "grabbed some items". She said that once inside the apartment he raped her. She escaped when he fell asleep. Police arrested the man while he was still sleeping in bed.

He told arresting officers that the woman had assaulted him, and showed them scratches on his back he said were caused by the woman.

At the Criminal Court he denied charges of rape and physical assault. He was found guilty of rape, but acquitted from the assault charge and was given six months in prison to be followed by deportation.

The Appeal Court reduced the jail term but upheld the deportation order.

salamir@thenational.ae