Dubai jail term upheld for journalist who groped female shopper

DUBAI // A journalist sentenced to three months in jail and then deportation by Dubai Criminal Court for molesting a female shopper as she loaded her trolley lost his appeal, with the court upholding his jail term.

Egyptian journalist A A, 31, denied a charge of molestation in both criminal and appeal courts. The records show that the incident happened at a Choithrams store at 10.30pm on July 12 last year, during Ramadan. Malaysian N A, 31, said: “I was with my children and reached for some eggs. Then, as I was bending to place them in my trolley, a man squeezed my behind and, when I turned around and called at him, he just did not care and continued walking away from me.”

The woman said she chased A A and stopped him. “I asked him why he would do that in the Holy month? He said he was sorry and that it happened by mistake. I told him I will call police so he left the place but, as I was leaving the shop, I saw him apprehended outside,” said the woman.

The journalist told the court: “I did not do that — why would I? I work in a good position and in a good place and I’m happily married — why would I do such thing and jeopardise losing my future?”

However, he was convicted and will be deported after serving his jail term.