Boy, 10, sexually assaulted by laundry worker, court told

Father discovered his son had been sexually assaulted after the 10-year-old sent him a message on Facebook with a crying emoji character.

DUBAI // A boy sent his father a crying emoji in a message on Facebook to tell him he had been sexually assaulted by a laundry worker, a court has heard.

On December 12 last year the Filipino boy, 10, sent the message and told his father that the Pakistani had done something strange.

After he said he received the message, the man’s wife called him.

“She told me to come home at once because there had been a problem with our son but she didn’t say any more. I rushed home to find him crying hysterically,” said the civil engineer, 48.

_____________________________

Today in court

■ Men assaulted security guard before stealing cables, Dubai court hears

■ Man attacked woman and snatched her handbag in Dubai car park, court hears

■ Men 'who claimed to be working with sheikh' used fake documents to buy Dh850,000 Porsche

_____________________________

The boy’s message read: “The laundry man did something strange to me and I don’t like it. Please don’t let him come again. It was very strange.”

The boy said the worker kissed and touched him, then pressed against his body before touching his private parts, the father said.

The Pakistani, 24, denied a charge of sexual assault charge. A verdict is expected on February 27.