A Dubai hotel manager who had faced charges of groping a 10-year-old girl in the luxury hotel's swimming pool has been acquitted in court.
The unnamed 33-year-old Lebanese defendant had been charged with abusing the Emirati girl while she was away from her parents, Gulf News reports.
According to prosecution records, the girl’s father had alleged that his maid had told him that his daughter had been allegedly molested. When he then went to the pool, he claimed to have found his daughter scared and confused.
The defendant pleaded his innocence all along, insisting he did not even touch the girl.
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"He is an upright person,” his lawyer argued in court. “He has a good job and has never been involved in any criminal behaviour.
“Besides, he is married and his wife has constantly supported him during the court proceedings... that by itself is a sign that his wife trusts him and believes that he did not molest the girl. Prosecutors' evidence is unsubstantiated and insufficient to indict my client. He did not commit any wrongdoing,"
The Dubai Court of First Instance acquitted, citing lack of corroborated evidence. The ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
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