Dubai: A singer has been charged with raping a woman in his villa while his friend has been charged with sexually molesting the victim.
The case dates back to July 2013 when the Emirati singer’s friend, also an Emirati, met the 19-year-old French woman at the open beach in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) at around 4pm. In her statement, the victim claimed that a Syrian man was also present. They invited her to a party at the singer’s villa where they consumed alcohol.
“I blacked out and woke up in hospital where I realised that I had been raped. I had bruises on my neck and right arm... the doctor who examined me told me that I had lost my virginity,” the victim claimed.
The suspects allegedly left the woman — naked and unconscious — on a pavement in Al Barsha where a police sergeant found her.
The sergeant, who lives nearby, found the woman while exercising at 6.30am. He rushed home, brought his wife to the spot and covered the woman before informing police.
The sergeant claimed that the victim was barely conscious and could not communicate clearly. “She seemed heavily drunk, but didn’t say a word except telling one of the paramedics that she’s French.”
A police lieutenant testified that when he questioned the Emirati friend following his arrest, the latter admitted that he met the woman at the open beach and had consensual sex with her at the villa.
“He [the friend] claimed that the woman got so drunk that she danced naked... she broke some furniture before they restrained her, dressed her and left her in Al Barsha,” he said.
The defendants [singer and his friend] have been referred to the Dubai Court of First Instance where they will be prosecuted next week.
