DUBAI // A man was sentenced to a year in jail and deportation for attempting to rape a Croatian tourist.
The Dubai Criminal Court heard that the 34-year-old victim, T B, managed to run barefoot from her assailant’s car to seek help of customers in a nearby restaurant.
At 8.30pm on November 25 last year T B was waiting for a taxi at the entrance to Dubai Mall when the defendant M Z, 25, from Jordan, pulled up in his car and offered her a lift.
She took the front seat next to him while his friend was in the back seat.
“He dropped his friend near a supermarket then claimed he lost his way and was looking for parking,” said the victim.
She said she began to fear for her safety when M Z parked in a remote sandy area.
Before she could object, he jumped on her and started slapping her.
“He grabbed me from my neck but I managed to stretch my leg and open the driver’s door then ran out,” she said.
She added that she left her handbag behind and took shelter in a nearby restaurant where customers called police.
Police arrived and took her to the station in a patrol car.
“She wasn’t wearing shoes and her clothes were in a mess. She was crying hysterically and had bruises around one of her eyes,” said Emirati policeman M A, 38.
As well as the attempted rape charge, M Z was charged with stealing her bag, which contained her two mobile phones, a passport and an airplane ticket.
M Z did not enter a plea.
salamir@thenational.ae