Dubai bus driver sexually assaulted passenger, court hears

Man allegedly carried out attack after woman refused to have sex with him

A Dubai bus driver sexually assaulted a female passenger before pleading with her not to tell police, a court heard.

The Pakistani man, 27, allegedly unbuttoned the woman's blouse and pulled down her trousers after she refused to have sex with him.

He slapped and choked the woman, 24, and told her he would get his friends to rape her, Dubai Criminal Court was told.

The woman, a saleswoman at a shop at Dubai Mall, had boarded the bus designated for mall workers on April 1.

The driver stopped the bus in a remote area and approached the woman.

“He came to me and said I was beautiful then asked to have sex with me. He then threatened to have his friends rape me,” she said.

She said he slapped and choked her when she resisted him and when she screamed, he silenced her forcefully.

“He begged me not to tell police saying that his life will be ruined. I promised him I wouldn't, after which he dropped me off near a main road.”

She hailed a taxi and went home, later calling police on the advice of her family.

The  driver was arrested the following day.

In court, he denied a charge of sexual assault.

A verdict is expected on June 23.