Man 'molests woman then stuck his middle finger up at her'

The woman told the court she forgave the man for touching her but was offended when he made the obscene gesture

A man groped a woman at a mall then stuck his middle finger up at her after she forgave him, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.

On October 27, an 18-year-old man allegedly grabbed a woman’s behind while she was walking with a friend at Deira City Centre.

“He groped me hard for about two seconds,” said the 24-year-old Chinese woman.

“I caught his arm and looked back to see a very young man, I asked him why did he do that, he looked innocent and he started apologizing, so I didn't feel it was necessary to report him, I told him not to do it again and told him I forgive him,” she told the court.

She told prosecutors that she let him go then seconds later turned back to look where he was, only to see him looking straight back at her and sticking his middle finger up at her.
"I felt so angry, why would he do that, he insulted me by touching me and just after I forgive him, he flags his middle finger at me instead of being grateful," she said.

The woman called for mall security who restrained him until police arrived.
The accused escaped from guards but was eventually caught and handed to police, the woman said.
CCTV footage showed the man touching the woman and then making the obscene gesture.

Prosecutors said the defendant admitted to a sex assault charge during questioning but in court on Monday, he denied the charge.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 14.