DUBAI // A man who was sentenced to six months in prison for having sex outside of wedlock won a reduced sentence at Dubai Appeals Court. The 32-year-old Emirati defendant was initially charged with rape, which he denied, in August last year, telling judges at Dubai Criminal Court that the act was consensual.
Evidence ruled out rape, and the court convicted him of consensual sex outside of marriage.
He appealed the verdict and his sentence was reduced to three months.
The woman, a Pakistani mother-of-two, said she met the defendant in December 2014 at a party she had organised for a friend in Jumeirah.
“I often organise parties for family members and friends, I love doing that,” said the 36-year-old.
“So, I met him at one party and we chatted for a while during which he told me he was planning a party and would use my help. I said OK and gave him my phone number.”
The defendant called her on December 8 and asked to meet to discuss the event.
“We met in Jumeirah. I parked my car and went with him because he said he wanted to show me where the party would be held,” said the victim.
The defendant drove her to a flat in Al Diyafa. As she was telling him the apartment was too small for a party, he locked the door and ordered her to sit.
She asked to leave but he threw her on a sofa and asked to have sex with her.
“I pleaded with him not to do so and told him I was married and have two children, but he didn’t listen and restrained both my hands,” said the woman.
“He wanted to have sex again but I was almost unconscious because I have diabetes, so he agreed to let me go but insisted that he drive me back, which he did,” the woman added.
She returned home and took her medication before heading to a police station to report the incident.
The defendant denied a charge of rape in both courts. Forensics confirmed traces of his DNA on the woman’s body.
salamir@thenational.ae
