DUBAI // A man who thrust his body at a woman’s bottom and touched himself in public at the Dubai Fountain was sentenced to three months in jail on Tuesday.
When unemployed Jordanian M E, 31, appeared at Dubai Criminal Court earlier this month he said that he was not aware of his actions.
“I don’t know what happened and I don’t know until today,” he said.
Prosecutors charged him with sexually assaulting Dutch tourist E J, 48, by touching her behind with his body several times. He was also charged with committing a publicly indecent act.
The woman testified that on November 7 last year she was watching the fountain display among the crowds when she felt someone sticking his body against hers from behind.
“I felt him moving back and forth against my behind then ... I noticed that he had pleasured himself,” she said. “I hit him but he did not care and just walked away.”
She called security and police, who found traces of the defendant’s DNA on her dress, before she boarded a flight and left the country.
The defendant was arrested on the same day.
“Up to today I don’t know what had happened to me, and I was not aware why or what was going on,” said the defendant in court.
He will be deported after completing his term.
salamir@thanational.ae
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
