Man sentenced to five years jail for rape

DUBAI // An Emirati man was today beginning a five year jail term for raping and sexually assaulting a Syrian saleswoman. YM, 27, was convicted by Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance, while another Emirati man, IA, 25, was acquitted of aiding and abetting his crime on May 5. IA was cleared after being accused of standing by and watching the assault. The court heard that YM had posed as a friend of the victim's ex-fiance and invited her out to play with his model aeroplane at the Dubai Radio Control (RC) Club, near Nad al Sheba. Afterwards, he took her to an apartment where he attempted to molest her. Later, while driving her home, he stopped the car, sexually assaulted her and raped her twice, the court found. The woman had not intended to report the crime but did 20 days later after YM continued harassing her via text message, the court heard. amustafa@thenational.ae