Employer denies raping his Ethiopian housemaid

DUBAI // A man accused of raping his Ethiopian housekeeper less than a week after hiring her has denied the charge in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance.

The housekeeper, J W, told prosecutors that she arrived in Ras al Khaimah on a valid visa to work as a domestic helper. The Emirati defendant, AA, 44, who works as a guard, hired her through an employment agency to work for his family in Dubai for a monthly salary of Dh500, records show.

Less than a week after moving in with the family, JW said she was ironing clothes in her room when the defendant came in and started speaking to her.

She told prosecutors that AA said he had bought the previous housekeeper gold because she used to obey his every word and he used to have sex with her. J W claimed A A told her he would buy her whatever she wanted and asked her to sleep with him, but she refused. She said that after she turned him down, he grabbed her hand, twisted it behind her back and held her from her neck, telling her she had to listen to his orders. AA then allegedly pushed her to the ground and raped her.

J W claimed AA went to the bathroom to clean up after the alleged attack, while she put on some clothes. She then went out to the courtyard and screamed until the neighbour's wife appeared. J W said she told the woman what had happened and the police were called. The housekeeper told prosecutors she tried to resist the defendant, but no one heard her because they were alone in the house. The case was adjourned to November 3.