Court hears kidnapping case

An Indian watchman kidnapped and assaulted a Filipina with a whip because she had "betrayed" their year-long friendship by meeting "other people", a court hears.

DUBAI // An Indian watchman kidnapped and assaulted a Filipina with a whip because she had "betrayed" their year-long friendship by meeting "other people", a court heard yesterday. The defendant, TR, 35, is accused of unlawfully detaining RS, 31, threatening her with a knife, tying her to a chair in an abandoned apartment and kicking and whipping her.

In evidence presented by the prosecution at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday, TR told police during questioning that he kidnapped and assaulted RS because he felt betrayed by her search for other friends. The victim claims she was taken at knifepoint by the defendant at around 4pm on April 23 as she was walking along Maktoum Street in Deira. Prosecutors read a statement by RS that the defendant "grabbed me hard by the wrist and stuck a knife in my side and asked me to accompany him to an apartment".

The victim said that in the defendant's room she was assaulted. She said the fridge door was slammed on her hand, after which TR took out a desk drawer and hit her with it and kicked her in the face. RS said the defendant also used an electrical cord to whip her. At around 4am the next day, and as TR was taking her back to the abandoned apartment, RS managed to get free and escape. TR has yet to enter a plea. The court adjourned the case until Dec 25.