Mother of Dubai hotel guest accused of molesting waitress claims son was ‘mentally ill’

The Saudi national was staying at the Dream Palace Hotel when he was accused of sexually assaulting the Ethiopian waitress in an elevator

DUBAI // The mother of a hotel guest who is facing trial for molesting a waitress claimed her son was mentally ill.

Saudi national Y A, 42, was staying in the Dream Palace Hotel in January when he allegedly sexually assaulted the Ethiopian waitress P L in an elevator.

On Monday, his mother presented documents to the criminal court stating that her son suffered from psychological issues.

The defendant also claimed he was married to the waitress. “How can I molest her? She is my wife,” he said.

P L told prosecutors that the defendant had caused a string of problems during his stay there.

She said he would interfere in the business of receptionists. Then while dining in the hotel’s restaurant he would shout at the cook for not preparing dishes that he liked.

“The hotel was contacted several times by the Saudi Consulate to drive the defendant to the airport so he can take a flight back to his country but he would not go,” said the waitress, adding that he had caused trouble on previous stays there.

“On the morning of January 16, I met him in the lift while carrying a cup of tea and he asked me about my name then passed his hand on my breast and back,” she told the court.

“I pushed him but he has a strong body so I couldn’t keep him off me and I wasn’t able to get help because it all happened so quickly.”

As the lift door opened, she ran out and told a security guard.

She also denied being his wife, but asked the court to drop charges against him.

The defendant’s lawyers said that Y A did not touch the woman. But in camera footage taken from the hotel, he was seen touching the waitress.

A verdict is expected on April 14.