DUBAI // A man is accused of sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl in a lift.
Dubai Criminal Court was told that the Iranian, 39, chatted with the girl about sports, bodybuilding and horse-riding before offering to show her how to ride a horse.
“She told me he had her bend over then he thrust his body against hers from the back, after which she was terrified and as the lift’s door opened she ran home screaming,” said the child’s Syrian mother, 41, who went to the building’s reception where her daughter pointed out the defendant.
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“He was very nervous and when I asked him if he had touched my daughter inappropriately. He denied it and told me he was just showing her how to ride a horse, but I didn’t believe him and called the police,” the mother said.
The incident happened on February 18 this year in a residential building in Dubai Marina at about 6.30pm.
Police arrested the defendant an hour later. He denied a sex assault charge in court. The next hearing will be on May 21.
salamir@thenational.ae
