Painter accused of molesting girl says he lost his balance

Court hears that the worker molested the girl after she walked into the room he was painting

A man molested a girl, 10, while painting her family’s house in Al Barsha, Dubai Criminal Court heard.

The Pakistani accused, 24, was among a team of workers who were hired to paint the house where the British girl lived with her family.

On June 7, the day of the incident, her father noticed his daughter acting reserved.

"We were having dinner when I felt she not herself. She was silent and scared," said the father, 44, who works as a manager.
He said he spoke to his daughter who told him that earlier that day she had entered one of the bedrooms the defendant was painting and he molested her.
"She told me he touched her inappropriately and, when she was running out of the room, he followed her and told her not to tell anyone what he did," said the father, who called police.
The accused was arrested and, during questioning, denied touching the girl.
At Dubai Criminal Court, he said he lost his balance while working and accidentally touched the girl.

The court will issue its verdict on September 13.