A lost tourist has landed in court after tapping a Dubai policewoman on the shoulder to get her attention.
The 49-year-old from Kazakhstan, who was at the Dubai Mall Metro Station when the incident happened, is facing charges of molestation and assault after an attempt to get directions went horribly wrong.
He said: “I’m a tourist and wanted to get to Dubai Mall. I saw a policewoman at the station. She was talking to some other people, so I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around and started yelling.”
The tourist, who appeared at Dubai Court of First Instance this week, is also accused of assaulting two policemen after they came over to help their colleague.
The 21-year-old Emirati policewoman said: “I was talking with some people when the defendant touched my arm near my right shoulder.
“He asked me about the location of Dubai Mall and I pointed in the direction. I asked him why he touched me and he answered in his own language, which I didn’t understand.”
The officer said the tourist then touched her hand and she became angry, telling the man to come with her to the police post, but he refused.
“Two policemen came and asked him to come to police post and he resisted, pushing them away. He even tried to touch me again but the policemen stopped him,” she said.
The incident happened on December 2, last year, about 4pm.
One of the male officers, a 22-year-old Emirati, said he intervened after hearing the policewoman telling the tourist not to touch her.
“I asked him to come with me, he refused and pushed me. I restrained him with my colleague,” he said.’
The court heard that CCTV footage shows the defendant speaking with the policewoman and touching her arm.
If found guilty, the defendant could be jailed for up to six months and deported.
The defendant denies molestation and assault.
A verdict is due on May 17.
ali.shouk@7days.ae
The 49-year-old from Kazakhstan, who was at the Dubai Mall Metro Station when the incident happened, is facing charges of molestation and assault after an attempt to get directions went horribly wrong.He said: “I’m a tourist and wanted to get to Dubai Mall. I saw a policewoman at the station. She was talking to some other people, so I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around and started yelling.”
The tourist, who appeared at Dubai Court of First Instance this week, is also accused of assaulting two policemen after they came over to help their colleague.
The 21-year-old Emirati policewoman said: “I was talking with some people when the defendant touched my arm near my right shoulder.
“He asked me about the location of Dubai Mall and I pointed in the direction. I asked him why he touched me and he answered in his own language, which I didn’t understand.”
The officer said the tourist then touched her hand and she became angry, telling the man to come with her to the police post, but he refused.
“Two policemen came and asked him to come to police post and he resisted, pushing them away. He even tried to touch me again but the policemen stopped him,” she said.
The incident happened on December 2, last year, about 4pm.
One of the male officers, a 22-year-old Emirati, said he intervened after hearing the policewoman telling the tourist not to touch her.
“I asked him to come with me, he refused and pushed me. I restrained him with my colleague,” he said.’
The court heard that CCTV footage shows the defendant speaking with the policewoman and touching her arm.
If found guilty, the defendant could be jailed for up to six months and deported.
The defendant denies molestation and assault.
A verdict is due on May 17.
ali.shouk@7days.ae
