Emirati man assaulted female friend, court hears

The attack happened after a night of drinking, prosecutors say.

DUBAI // An unemployed man sexually assaulted a female friend at her house last year, the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance heard this morning.

Dubai prosecutors charged the 28-year-old Emirati MM with sexual assault and illegal consumption of alcohol.

He denied the first charge and pleaded guilty to the second when he appeared in court today.

According to records, the two spent the night of June 23, 2010, at a club and consumed liquor.

The victim, a 27-year-old receptionist from the Philippines, told prosecutors they went to her house in Bur Dubai area, and because he was drunk and unable to drive, she allowed him to sleep in her apartment.

Records show that MM was used to spending time at the victim’s apartment because they were close friends.

The woman said she prepared a bedroom for MM to sleep in, then went to her own room to sleep. But shortly afterward, he entered her room and approached her bed, she testified.

She said she was surprised and rejected his overtures, but he hit her on her back, then restrained her.

The records said MM then laid on top of her and sexually assaulted her with his hands before she pushed him away.

The woman said she kicked him out of the apartment about 6am, then called the police, records show.

A forensic report could not confirm the victim's allegations but confirmed DNA found in her apartment matched those of the defendant.

The next hearing was scheduled for April 11 to allow MM to appoint a lawyer.