Labourer accused in court of molesting woman on Dubai Metro station escalator

The woman told the Criminal Court she was on the escalator at the Jebel Ali Metro Station when she felt a man pushing his body close to hers.

DUBAI // An Indian labourer appeared at the Criminal Court on Monday accused of molesting a woman on an escalator at the Jebel Ali Metro Station.

Prosecutors said that on the morning of March 29 this year, Indian A N, was on the escalator when she felt a man pushing his body close to hers.

“I became so angry and turned around quickly, which caused me to lose my balance and almost fall,” she said.

She managed to hold on to the escalator with her left hand while the defendant held her right hand. When she pulled away, he grabbed her chest.

“I screamed at him so loudly that people gathered around us and called the police, who came and arrested him,” she said.

J D, 26, also from India, denied the charges of sexual assault.

“I didn’t mean to touch her. I was the one who lost balance and I was about to fall, so without thinking I tried to hold on to anything and by mistake I held on to her,” he said.

“I didn’t realise that I touched her breast in the process, so I apologised to her.”

A verdict is expected on July 21.