Woman wins appeal against adultery

ABU DHABI // A woman who was pregnant outside of wedlock has been cleared of adultery by the second Appeals Court to look at her case.

S J, an Ethiopian, was caught by immigration police for fleeing from her sponsor and working for other employers for two years.

As they were conducting procedures to deport her, it was discovered she was seven months pregnant, without a husband, and she was referred to police for questioning.

She told them that while she was working at the apartment of a Sudanese man, M, he beat her until she fainted. When she woke up she was naked. Three months later she discovered she was pregnant.

She later changed her statement and told police that she had consensual sex with him; then changed her stance and denied committing adultery.

The CID agent Saeed Al Ameri said they were not able to reach a decision about whether or not she had been raped.

The Criminal Court found her guilty of adultery last March, and sentenced her to six months in jail, plus one month for breaking residency rules.

The Appeals Court cleared her of the adultery, but sentenced her to one month in prison for a breach of visa rules, followed by deportation.