Worker on trial for molesting 5-year-old

DUBAI — A 46-year-old worker has gone on trial for allegedly molesting a 5-year-old girl while she played outside, away from her parents.

The public prosecution records show the Indian worker molested the Iranian girl while she played outside her parents’ house in Al Barsha. He is believed to have kissed and hugged her on two different occasions. The girl’s father, a 44-year-old Iranian manager, said he was at home on March 9 when he heard from his wife about what the accused did to their daughter. “My wife told me that as she was with our daughter in a car heading to a park at 6 pm, she (my wife) drove to give that worker some extra food. Our daughter, who felt suddenly scared and hid in the back seat, then told her mother that the worker’s breath smelt awful. My wife asked her how she knew that, to which she answered that he had kissed her on two different occasions.”

The father then checked with his daughter about the incident. On March 13, the couple reported the worker to his foreman. “The latter then brought him before us and my girl identified him,” the father told the prosecutor. The family then went to the police station to lodge a complaint. The girl’s mother said the victim did not inform them about the incident right away out of fear.

The defendant admitted to the molestation charge. A court ruling is expected on May 27.