Court cuts sentence for drunk who tried to rape model in her flat



DUBAI // A jobless man who entered a model’s apartment, threw a plastic bag over her head and attempted to rape her has won a reduced sentence at Dubai Court of Appeal.

The defendant, 27, who holds a Comoros Islands passport, was sentenced by Dubai Criminal Court to three years in jail and deportation. He appealed and won a reduced term of one year but will still be deported after completing his sentence.

On the night of February 6 last year, the 35-year-old Moroccan victim was washing clothes in her bathroom.

Her door was unlocked as her sister had gone to buy groceries.

“I heard the door open and thought my sister had returned but was shocked when I saw a man standing outside my bathroom door,” said the model.

The drunk defendant placed a plastic bag on the woman’s head but when she removed it, he pulled her by the hair, began hitting her and demanded sex.

She said he threw her to the floor as she was screaming for help. “He tried to undress me with one hand while strangling me with the other, but my sister arrived and grabbed him from the back of his shirt,” said the woman.

The sister, 37, said she tried to restrain him until police arrived. He escape through window but was arrested shortly afterwards.

An Emirati policeman who questioned the defendant said: “He told me that he was drunk and leaving a nightclub when he saw the woman and followed her home, then decided to rob her home.”

The officer said the suspect confessed to entering the apartment, believing it was empty, but found the woman there and they fought as she was trying to stop him from fleeing.

In both courts, the man denied charges of trespassing, attempted rape and consuming alcohol without a licence.

However, he was convicted of all charges.

salamir@thenational.ae

Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Based: Dubai
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Despacito's dominance in numbers

Released: 2017

Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon

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Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification

Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.

Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards

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Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

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The specs

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

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Rating: 3/5

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
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Persuasion
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
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1987

1954

1921

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MATCH DETAILS

Manchester United 3

Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)

Partizan Belgrade 0

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