DUBAI // A man denied kidnapping and molesting a saleswoman late at night during Ramadan last year.
“She jumped into my car of her own free will, she was my girlfriend,” said Pakistani defendant MA, 27, when he appeared at Dubai Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Records show that the Filipino woman was returning home after finishing her night shift at a hypermarket in Bur Dubai when the defendant chased after her in his car.
“I felt frightened and started running away from the car and heading to my nearby building but the car stopped in front of me and the driver jumped out, pulled me from the hand and threw me to the back seat while I screamed ‘help, help’,” said 26-year-old JS.
She added that he drove around her building while telling her that he loved her and trying to persuade her to drink water that he kept in his car.
“I was screaming the whole time — for about 40 minutes — and begged him to let me go but he didn’t listen and then he attacked me and started kissing me,” she said, adding that he then returned her home.
Indian witness JJ, 31, said she was walking in front of the Filipina when she saw her running away from a car and screaming for help.
The witness called police, who arrested the man.
MA denied charges of kidnap and molestation.
The next hearing is on March 30.
salamir@thenational.ae