Cleaner raped in women’s toilets at mall, Dubai court told

DUBAI// A carpenter beat up and then raped a female cleaner in the women’s toilets at a mall, Dubai Criminal Court was told.

The victim, a 25-year-old from Nepal, was cleaning the toilets at City Walk at nearly 2am when she noticed the defendant in the mirror.

“I asked what he was doing there. I tried to walk away and at the same time pulled my mobile phone from my pocket, but he snatched it then dragged me by the hand into the changing room,” the woman said. The defendant then hit her on the mouth, slapped and threatened her before he sitting on top of her and stripping her naked, she said.

“He gagged me with one hand and stripped me with the other then raped me and only ran away when he heard foot steps.”

The victim got dressed and told a security guard what had happened.

Police were called and took the cleaner to hospital. The carpenter was arrested after the victim identified him at the police station.

“He was found hiding between cars in a car park,” said an Emirati policeman.

The defendant said during questioning that he entered the women’s restroom by mistake, according to the police officer. He said the woman took off her clothes and offered herself to him and that when they were finished, she insulted him so he slapped her.

The defendant denied a rape charge when he appeared in court. The next hearing will be on November 15.