Woman jumped from balcony to escape rape, Dubai court hears

DUBAI // A woman threw herself from a first-floor flat to escape being raped by a friend, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Filipina said she was being overpowered so she played along with her Pakistani friend, E W, 28, before seizing the chance to escape in a fall in which she broke several ribs.

Prosecutors said she visited Global Village with her friend on November 9 last year before the man went to his office, which is based in a small flat, to pick up some documents.

“We headed to this office in Deira and I went to his office with him, where I sat on the couch while he got his documents,” said the woman, adding that he then excused himself to go to the toilet but came back topless.

“He then took off his trousers and stood naked in front of me so I knew he had bad intentions and he wanted to rape me,” said the Filipina.

She said he threw her on the sofa, sat on top of her and started kissing her against her will. She tried to fight him off but stopped when she realised she would not be able to escape unless she tricked him.

“I played along that I was OK with it but just needed a glass of water, so when he got off me I headed to the window, opened it and threatened to jump,” she said. “He started laughing so I threw myself out and fainted.”

She said she awoke to find herself on the ground with a crowd around her.

“I saw that he had brought my purse and shoes, which he knocked off my feet while trying to force himself on me, but he kept my leggings with him,” she said.

Police and an ambulance arrived after a passer-by had called for them and the woman was taken to Rashid Hospital, where she was found to have broken ribs and several bruises.

Pakistani witness M A, 46, said: “I was in the shop where I work and suddenly heard a loud sound of something hitting the floor. When I checked I found a woman lying unconscious. People gathered around her then I saw a man coming out of the building from which the woman had apparently fallen. He was carrying a woman’s purse, which he threw next to the unconscious woman then fled.”

The defendant was arrested and charged with attempted rape, which he denied in court, saying that he had her consent. A verdict is expected on April 15.