DUBAI // A police officer has appeared in court charged with kidnapping and molesting a flight attendant.
Prosecutors said Emirati S M, 28, threatened to arrest Italian F D, 30, for kissing her friend in public, before kidnapping and molesting her in his car near Wafi mall,
Records show that in September last year F D was in a cab with her Romanian friend R in Al Hudaiba when the taxi was pulled over by S M.
F D told prosecutors S M wanted to fine the driver for stopping in the middle of the street.
“I left the cab and my friend R went on his way. While I walked home I heard S M telling me to stop,” said F D.
The Italian said S M showed her his police ID and asked her to get in his car.
“I refused several times but he insisted and told me not to be afraid because he was a police officer,” said F D.
“After 10 minutes of driving he parked and asked me if I was wearing underwear. I told him it’s none of his business and he got mad. He then told me he suspected that I was drunk and in possession of drugs and wanted to search me physically,” continued F D.
She told S M she had no problem being searched but only by a female officer.
“S M then said he was going to report me for kissing my friend in the taxi. I got afraid and started crying and asked him to take me home,” said F D.
Once they reached F D’s home, S M asked her to raise her arms before putting his hands inside her shirt and touching her breasts.
F D was able to identify S M from a police line up. She also identified the rented Mercedes he was driving on the day of the incident.
F M denied charges of kidnapping, issuing threats and molestation.
The next hearing is set for July 7.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
