A driver has denied stealing a kiss from a receptionist in her office.
Prosecutors charged the 26-year-old driver, M.T., with molesting the 21-year-old receptionist by pulling her close to his body and forcibly kissing her.
"No sir that did not happen… I am not guilty," said Jordanian M.T. when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance.
According to the charge sheet, the suspect hugged Filipina L.C. against her will and held her head. Then he forced her to kiss him.
His lawyer asked Presiding Judge Hamad Abdul Latif Abdul Jawad to adjourn the case until he hears prosecution witnesses on January 23.
The receptionist alleged that the incident happened at the office where she works in Dubai Media City.
Offer of coffee
"My Jordanian boss, R.I., asked me to wait for the company's representative to collect from him a car key. While I was at the reception, the defendant arrived and claimed that he also was waiting for the company's representative. I asked the suspect if he wanted to drink coffee or tea. He asked me for coffee. I walked into the kitchenette to prepare coffee for him.
"After he drank the coffee he claimed that it didn't taste good… I offered to prepare him a new cup. When I walked into the kitchenette, he followed me inside and touched my hair and hugged me. I felt scared and nervous from his attitude, and when I tried to avoid him, he pulled me strongly towards his body and hugged me again," L.C. told the prosecutors.
Prosecution records said the defendant asked the receptionist about her salary and offered to have it increased because he had a strong friendship with her boss.
"I refused to discuss my salary with him and told him it is something personal. Then he walked towards my desk at the reception and asked me to kiss him. I refused and told him that he is not my boyfriend… suddenly he grabbed me again from my shoulder. Then he forcibly turned me towards him and stole a kiss from me against my will. I pushed him away and ran to the kitchenette. Meanwhile the company's representative arrived," she claimed during questioning.
Disturbed
The company's representative, A.H., claimed that he realised that L.C. was disturbed while he was driving her back home after work. "She alleged to me that she was molested by M.T. While we were in the car, I phoned the defendant and asked him about L.C.'s claims, but he denied," A.H. claimed during questioning.
The receptionist's sister convinced her to report to the police. The trial continues.
By Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter
