Accused claims to Dubai court sex assault was 'drunken prank'

Man denies sexual assault, but admits illegal consumption of alcohol.

DUBAI // A man sexually assaulted a woman after pouring water over her door as a drunken "prank", a court heard today.

When the woman noticed the water seeping into her apartment she opened her door and was confronted by RM, 30, from India, who pushed his way in, gagged her and pushed her onto the bed before fondling her, prosecutors told the Criminal Court.

As the student screamed for mercy the man slapped her and threatened to kill her if she continued. After a while he left the room and the student told her father, who called police.

Policeman JA, 50, responded to the call on December 22 last year. He told the court that when he arrived he saw the girl crying and bleeding from her mouth. "She told me the man threatened to kill her if she called police," he said.

The man was charged with issuing threats, sexual assault, physical assault, trespassing and illegally consuming alcohol.

"This is not true, I'm not guilty," the man told the court. "I didn't trespass, she invited me into her room when she opened the door, and I was pouring water as a prank your honour." He also denied the sex assault charge.

However, he confessed to the alcohol charge. "I'm guilty of drinking alcohol," he admitted. "If I hadn't been drinking then all of this wouldn't have happened."

A verdict is expected on March 27.