Sex abuse suspect on suicide charge

DUBAI // An Emirati man accused of sexual abuse has been additionally charged with attempted suicide after he drank cleaning fluid to draw attention to what he said was mistreatment by the police. AJ, 27, told the Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday that he drank the poison to be able to see a doctor after being beaten by officers at the Rashidiyah Police station. He said that after he was beaten, officers at the station refused to provide him with medical attention or allow him to obtain a medical report from the hospital.

"I did not want to commit suicide," he told the presiding judge, El Saeed Bargouth. "I needed to get a medical report of the abuse given to me." AJ has been charged with sexually assaulting an Emirati woman and illegally entering her house, as well as attempted suicide. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Prosecution records state that in August 2007 AJ contacted the woman, asking to meet her. She told prosecutors that she had received a text message from the defendant with a picture of her in a compromising situation.

"He threatened that if I did not see him he would show every one the picture," she testified. "He told me that he was infatuated with me and wanted to advise me." The woman said she contacted the Al Ameen security service but that she was instructed to go to the nearest police station to lodge her complaint. "I did not want to go to a police station because I did not want to be publicly embarrassed," she said.

The defendant continually pestered her and one night appeared in front of her house, telling her to open the window, she said. "He asked to come in and I refused, so he then rang my doorbell and threatened to wake up my family if I did not let him in." When the defendant came into the room, she said, he sexually assaulted her and then ran away. AJ was taken into custody last October 20 and released on bail.

The court adjourned the hearing to next month to review witness testimony. [e-mail]