DUBAI // A driver has been sentenced to life in prison for the abduction and rape of a housemaid he met at Dubai airport by posing as her sponsor.
Indonesian M S, 36, arrived in Dubai on October 4 last year and was waiting at the airport when Pakistani N A, 42, approached her and said he was her sponsor.
He then drove her to a remote area in Sharjah where he assaulted, threatened and then raped her, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
“I was in the back seat. He stopped the car and sat near me and asked to have sex with him,” said the maid.
“I said no, so he slapped me and threatened to kill me if I did not. I got so scared knowing no one here but I still said no to him. He then punched me and raped me.”
N A drove M A back to near Dubai airport and dropped her in the street. The maid flagged down a passing car to ask for help.
“It was nearly 4am when I saw her waving,” said Filipino motorist E M, 46. “She asked if this was Al Ain and I said ‘It’s Dubai. She then asked to use my phone and started crying. I couldn’t understand her language but I could see bruises on her face.’”
Police were called and N A was arrested at the airport.
He was charged with kidnap, rape, assault and issuing threats, all of which he denied. Forensic experts confirmed M S had been was raped.
N A will be deported after completing his sentence.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
