Prison cell rape accused says sex was consensual, Dubai court hears

The 20-year-old convict is charged with raping his cellmate at Dubai Central Jail.

DUBAI // A convict accused of raping his cellmate at Dubai Central Jail has denied the charge, saying the sex was consensual.

M A, a 20-year-old Emirati, is charged with raping his compatriot on the night of June 7, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.

“This is not true, it was with his consent and you can summon witnesses from prison who can tell you it was with his consent,” MA told judges.

His victim, who is also 20, told prosecutors that he knew M A before the two were jailed, because they lived near each other. However, they became closer after sharing a cell together.

“A few days before the incident he came to me and accused me of raping one of his family members before I came to jail,” said the victim.

“I told him this was not true and I can talk to whoever is claiming so and prove my innocence.”

He added that he felt the accused was making the story up so he would have an excuse to do something bad to him.

“And my feeling was right because he came a couple of days later at night time and asked to have sex with me, so I refused and we engaged in a fight, during which he punched and spanked me then restrained me on the bed and raped me,” said the victim, who waited until the morning to report the incident.

“I was afraid if I went at once to report him he would have someone hurt me, especially as he had power among other prisoners, so I waited until 6am the next morning, when everyone was busy with breakfast, and reported him.”

A forensic report confirmed that DNA of the defendant matched samples taken from the victim’s body.

The verdict is due on October 28.