Photographer accused of raping flatmate

There was a woman with him (the accused) so I let them in. He said they were moving out.” Complainant, British resident

dubai — A 26-year-old man allegedly raped his flatmate after she let him inside her room, a Dubai court has heard.

The man, a Syrian photographer, has been accused at the Dubai Court of First Instance of entering the 51-year-old British victim’s room after claiming he could get her a cheaper room at a villa.

The incident took place on October 19 last year and was reported to Al Barsha police station.

The complainant, a nurse, said the accused knocked on her door around 4.30pm. “There was a woman with him and I let them in. He said they were moving to a cheaper villa that had a pool. He then said that his companion was tired and would go to sleep in his room.”

The complainant told the prosecutor that he then locked the door. “I tried to get off the bed, but he made me sit again. He touched me inappropriately as he asked if I had a boyfriend. I tried to push him away, but he was stronger.” He then allegedly raped her. He left her shortly later “in a state of shock. I hesitated to report the incident at first, but I complained later as I was afraid he would do it again. I was also worried about getting any transmittable disease,” she said.

A police lieutenant said he heard from the accused that he stayed in a flat where the complainant also rented a room. “He claimed the woman invited him to her room, where they had consensual sex,” the officer said.

Bruises and scratches on the woman’s body suggested she tried to resist, according to the forensic report. The trial will continue on May 15.