Sentence upheld for cameraman voyeur

DUBAI // A French operations manager who taped a small camera to the bottom of a carrier bag then stood close to women in skirts in a shopping mall and took indecent photos, has had his sentence upheld by the Dubai Court of Appeal.

In September last year, 39-year-old H R denied the sexual assault of several women in Dubai Criminal Court.

“I have never taken such pictures,” he said.

Records stated that H R was spotted using the camera on May 8, 2013, by a shop supervisor at Mall of the Emirates who reported him to a security guard.

“I felt it was strange and kept looking,” said supervisor K S, 26. “I saw him do the same to another woman standing near the first one and also wearing a skirt.”

A Dubai Police forensics report said the camera had obscene pictures of women, 23 deleted files of similar photos and 22 others of an obscene nature.

The report also found 293 deleted photos of women in public places, some of which were of their intimate parts.

Prosecutors said H R confessed to filming women without their knowledge under investigation.

He then denied this in court. After being convicted he appealed against the six-month jail sentence and lost.

He will be deported after the completion of his sentence.