'I was molested by man who offered me a lift'

[sajid]

Dubai: A Filipina has claimed that the lack of taxis in Dubai forced her to accept a lift with a stranger, who then molested her.

Records said the 27-year-old Filipina was desperately looking for a lift from Satwa to her workplace in Creek Park after she failed to find a cab.

The Public Prosecution charged a 24-year-old Pakistani mechanic, O.W., with exploiting R.A.'s need for a taxi, kidnapping her and molesting her.

The mechanic dismissed what he described as the Filipina's "baseless accusations" and pleaded not guilty before Presiding Judge Saeed Salem Bin Sarm when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Tuesday.

R.A. claimed in her statement before the Public Prosecution: "I was waiting desperately for a taxi because I had to be at work before 9am... the suspect stopped his car in front of me and offered to drive me. I jumped into the front passenger seat and he moved. He told me that I didn't have to go to work and offered to pay me money to have sex and spend the day with him. Then he locked the doors using the central locking system and changed direction towards Deira after I turned down his offer."

The Filipina claimed that she grew scared when he refused to drop her at her workplace.

"He stopped in a public place and tried to hug me and groped my breast... although I was very frightened, I had to pretend that it was OK by me and asked him to drive me to work for a few minutes so I could clock in and return to him."

Crying

She stated that she agreed to keep her purse in his possession as confirmation that she would return within five minutes.

"He molested me again before he allowed me to go... I briefed my compatriot supervisor on what had happened as soon as I entered the office," claimed R.A.

Her Filipino supervisor informed the police.

R.A.'s Turkish colleague testified: "R.A. stormed into work and she was crying and scared. She claimed that the suspect molested her and she had left her purse in his car."

Records said the victim and two of her colleagues helped her get the purse from the suspect who escaped before the police arrived.