Driver jailed for raping job seeker

Ehab Atta, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Criminal Court sentenced Monday a 25-year-old Asian driver to 10 years in jail followed by deportation over raping a compatriot girl he helped get a job.

The incident took place when the driver invited the girl for dinner at his home. The victim accepted the convict’s invitation because he allegedly helped her find a job.

The 21-year-old victim testified before the Dubai Public Prosecution that she had come to the country and stayed with her aunt to look for work. She spoke to a roommate about this who told her  that her brother “the accused” could help her get a job.

She contacted the accused who managed to provide her with a job offer. She had the interview and agreed on the salary. After she finished, the interviewer transported her to the defendant’s residence at the latter’s request. When she arrived there, the defendant was not there. He apologised to her and asked to wait for him in the building. He then returned on the pretext of discussing some matters regarding the new job and having dinner together on this occasion before he could transport her back in Abu Dhabi.

“I waited until 12 pm, and when he returned he took me to his apartment where he lived. He looked drunk. When I entered, I noticed some people sitting and drinking alcohol. He asked me to come inside a separate balcony with a door covered by a blanket so that anyone outside cannot see inside,” she told the prosecution.

When they sat, he said he loved her and wanted to marry her. Then he raped her before falling asleep. He was very drunk. She managed to get out of the apartment after telling people there that she was suffering from bleeding and needed to go to the hospital.

In another case, a 23-year-old Asian barber lurked in the early hours of the morning to exploit a 27-year-old saleswoman who was walking on her way home. He tried to rape her, but  failed and ran away after she resisted his attempts.

The victim called the police after she escaped. The police arrested the accused and referred him to the Dubai Public Prosecution, where he was interrogated. According to the victim’s testimony, the accused intended to rape her, but because of her resistance and screaming, he was not able to.