Water vendor jailed for molesting woman

dubai — A man has been sentenced by a Dubai court to three months in jail followed by deportation for sexually harassing a female customer while delivering water at her home.

The 24-year-old man denied the sexual harassment charge at the Court of First Instance, claiming that he touched her unintentionally because of the small space inside the kitchen.

“It was 10am when I called the number of the defendant who worked at a company that usually delivered water to us,” said the 32-year-old woman who works as an air hostess.

“I was home alone as my husband was away on a business trip. I let the worker in so he can install the bottle on the cooler since I am pregnant and cannot carry heavy loads. I noticed there was still some water in the bottle that needed to be changed, so I told him to put the new one on the floor.

“As I was busy emptying the old bottle, I was surprised by him grabbing me by the waist from behind and pulling me towards him. I pushed him away and yelled, telling him to leave. About five minutes later, he came back with another man and knocked on the door but I did not open.”

During the investigation, she was asked whether she initiated a conversation with the accused. She said that she apologised for not hearing him ringing the door bell as it had been raining. She added that there was enough space in the kitchen.

The day after the incident, her husband came back and she filed a complaint at Al Rashidiya station.

A police sergeant said the accused was arrested on December 18, 2017, in Al Quoz.