Dubai: An exhibition manager has been accused of kissing a music and art enthusiast while she was visiting a photography exhibition about music bands, a court heard on Monday.
The music and art enthusiast was said to be visiting the photography exhibition at Dubai Design District when the American manager started briefing her about the exhibition’s purpose in March.
Having been in hurry to meet up her family, the woman had to leave the place and she exchanged phone numbers with the manager, according to records, who surprised her with a kiss while walking her outside.
The woman [whose nationality was not mentioned in records] felt disturbed and did not know whether to report the matter to the police until her relatives and friends advised her to do so.
The suspect also sent a message to the woman on WhatsApp saying that he enjoyed the kiss.
Police apprehended the 58-year-old suspect following the woman’s complaint.
Prosecutors accused the suspect of molesting the woman by kissing her.
The suspect pleaded not guilty when he appeared before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Monday.
“I did not do it,” the suspect contended before presiding judge Urfan Omar.
His lawyer asked to hear the woman’s statement when the court reconvenes on June 4.
The woman told prosecutors that the incident happened while she was attending the exhibition to get ideas that would help her in establishing her own company in a neighbouring country.
“I visited the exhibition as I wanted to establish my own company. I was talking on phone with a relative whom I was supposed to meet. When I saw the manager, he started briefing me enthusiastically about the exhibition. I exchanged contacts with him for future cooperation and started walking out of the exhibition. He walked beside me and while doing so, he grabbed my face with his hands and kissed me. I left the place instantly and was shocked and disturbed with his behaviour … the kiss surprised me as I thought he was a transsexual. When I told my friends about the incident, they advised me to report the matter to police. At first I remained, but when he sent me his photos and a message on WhatsApp saying he enjoyed the kiss and wanted to do it again. That was when I reported the matter to police,” she told prosecutors.
