UAE hotel says it 'supported' rape-claim employee

The Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah is facing a lawsuit alleging it breached its workplace duty of care to Australian Alicia Gali, who is seeking compensation from her former employer.

The 29-year-old claimed her drink was spiked before being raped by three or four co-workers in June 2008.

When Gali reported the alleged incident she was jailed on an adultery charge and spent eight months in prison.

The former beauty salon manager at the resort was later pardoned and released in March 2009.

A spokesman for the international group Starwood Hotels, which owns the resort, said the management of Le Méridien Al Aqah “is aware of the unfortunate circumstances that occurred in June 2008 concerning Alicia Gali”

“The matter was investigated thoroughly by local United Arab Emirates authorities at that time. Upon completion of the investigation, and after obtaining statements from Ms. Gali as well as other hotel staff and third parties, the local authorities applied local laws and determined that it was appropriate to incarcerate Ms. Gali and the other individuals involved in this matter,” he said.

“The hotel management provided support and assistance to Ms. Gali and her family throughout this time including assisting with medical support, arranging for financial support, assistance with the investigation, liaising with her representative embassy and arranging for her family to come to the UAE from Australia. The safety and security of staff is a paramount priority.”

He added that as the matter was part of an open investigation, the company couldn’t “comment further at this time”.

Despite the hotel stating it assisted Gali, she claims the hotel failed to protect staff against assault, adding that the resort encouraged workers to drink illegally at its staff bar.

In a statement to Australian press Gali said: "I thought I would be safe and protected in an international hotel group".

"They didn't give me the correct advice and didn't help me when I was charged and imprisoned. I still feel angry and upset. It's distressing because I was a victim in all this and I was punished," she added.

Gali’s lawyer, Melissa Payne, said that Gali suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorders and that the incident could have been avoided.

She claimed that accommodation should have been segregated and that correct advice was not given by the hotel’s HR department.

The law firm is preparing its case and is consulting UAE legal experts, human rights and labour law experts.

While there was never a prosecution against anyone for sexual assault or rape, Payne said Gali had delayed the lawsuit until she had recovered psychologically.

Payne said it was likely the lawsuit would be heard in Australian courts, but there was a possibility it could proceed in the UAE.

"This is a complex area of law, but we are exploring all options," she said.