DUBAI // A cleaner who broke into a house and molested a girl at knifepoint was arrested four weeks later when the teenager recognised him in a park, Dubai Criminal Court was told.
The Sri Lankan entered the Indian family’s house through an open window at 3am on January 27 this year, prosecutors claimed.
He took a knife from the kitchen then searched for something to steal before walking into the victim’s room.
The 37-year-old then gagged the 14-year-old student using tape before forcing her to strip and then molested her, the court was told. He then fled.
The girl told her father about the intruder and he ran outside in pursuit.
“I couldn’t find him and after I returned home my wife told me of the sex assault,” the 47-year-old father said.
Police found the Sri Lankan’s ring in the house.
They said it had fallen off during his escape.
Almost a month later, the girl said she saw the suspect in a public park near their home and took a photo of him before calling police, who arrested him.
Prosecutors said the man confessed to the charges of sexual assault, attempted robbery, and trespassing during questioning.
But he was unable to enter a plea in court as no translator was present.
The next hearing has been scheduled for August 7.
salamir@thenational.ae
