DUBAI // An estate agent sexually assaulted a newly engaged woman during a flat viewing, a court heard yesterday.
The agent, MA, 29, a Pakistani, was charged at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance with attacking his Mexican customer and inappropriately photographing her with his phone camera.
MA denied the charges before Judge Mohammed Bel Abded.
The woman, 24, said that on the evening of July 18 she went with MA to International City to look at apartments for rent.
"I was recently engaged and I wanted to rent an apartment for myself and my husband-to-be," she said.
During the viewing, MA and the woman went to several different locations, which she photographed.
"At one flat I really liked, I took pictures with my phone camera of the balcony and bedroom to show my friends and fiancé," she said. "I suddenly felt something touching my legs and thighs and saw the defendant putting his hand up my skirt."
The defendant, she said, was inappropriately touching her from behind and rubbing against her.
"I was shocked and disgusted," she said. "I heard the shutter click of a camera and looked down and saw the man take an improper picture of me with his phone camera."
She then pushed the estate agent, grabbed the phone from him and said she would report him to police.
Prosecutors said MA struggled with the woman in an attempt to get his phone back.
"I tried to throw the phone away but he got it from me," she testified. "Then I escaped and ran out of the building."
She said MA chased her and grabbed her by her arms, begging her not to inform his management.
"But I got away and took a taxi, and found bruises and scratches on my arms," she said.
A forensic report detailed the physical marks and cuts she suffered.
The court will reconvene on December 30.
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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