ABU DHABI // A man accused of rape must be innocent because he was wearing jeans and the streets are safe at night, his lawyer argued.
The Criminal Court heard that the Bangladeshi FA raped a Filipina on the streets of Bani Yas. The woman said he pulled her by the hair before knocking her to the ground and holding his hand over her mouth to stifle her screams as he raped her. She said that afterwards he stole her mobile phone before fleeing the scene.
But the man's lawyer, Habeeb Al Housani, told the court the "details sound impossible".
"She said the defendant was wearing jeans, how could he undo his jeans and take them off without using both his hands?" asked the lawyer.
"She said it occurred on the street at night; thank God our streets are as safe at night as during day, they are well lit and occupied," he added.
The accused man admitted having sex with the woman, but claimed the intercourse was consensual.
"Because I did not pay her money in exchange for the sex she took revenge and complained that I raped her," he told the judges.
A verdict is expected on November 22.
hdajani@thenational.ae
