Woman 'was kidnapped and raped'

A British woman was kidnapped and molested after a night out with her sister at a Dubai nightclub, a court heard yesterday.

DUBAI // A British woman was kidnapped and raped after a night out with her sister at a Dubai nightclub, a court heard yesterday. SA told investigators that on the night of October 12 last year, after waiting for some time for a taxi, she accepted the offer of a lift home from a Jordanian sales executive. SM, 30, was charged by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance with rape, kidnap and illegal consumption of alcohol.

He denies the charges, but faces the death penalty if convicted. According to records SM kidnapped SA after promising to drive her to her home in Garhoud from the nightclub in Jumierah 1. According to SA, he drove past the exit for her home off the al Garhoud bridge, then drove around the neighbourhood before parking. She became suspicious and asked SM to let her out, but he locked the doors. He then tried to kiss her, exposed himself and molested her, she told investigators.

The woman jumped into the back seat of the Volkswagen Golf, and tried to break the car window by kicking it, but failed. The defendant then jumped into the back seat, where he raped her. Forensic evidence presented to court by the Deira Chief Public Prosecutor, Yousif Foulaz, revealed that DNA gathered from the victim's clothes originated from SM. The court adjourned the case until June 30. @Email:[e-mail]