Court hears mentally disabled boy raped and molested

DUBAI // A 17-year-old mentally disabled student was raped and sexually molested on two different occasions by men in his neighbourhood a court heard yesterday. This is the third case involving the rape of mentally challenged boys to be heard at the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance since June. The boy, according to public prosecutors, suffered from mental disability since birth and cannot correctly evaluate dangerous situations. An Indian tailor was charged with sexually molesting the boy while a Pakistani farmer was charged with raping him in an abandoned building behind the Iranian Hospital. The tailor, Y R, 34, and farmer B K, 36, both denied the charges. The two were arraigned in one case but are being tried for two separate assaults on the boy. Records show that on December 12 last year the boy went to the local grocery store and met B K. B K allegedly presented him with pornographic material on his mobile phone and then lured him to an abandoned villa telling him that he could enjoy the videos there. The man then allegedly raped the boy, handed him Dh20 and asked him to go home. Upon his return he informed his neighbour and police were called to search the area. While police were questioning the boy he presented them with an accurate description of B K which was then illustrated. The boy also told investigators about the Indian tailor who molested him. He said that the tailor gave him fruits a few months before and asked him to join him at his flat. When the boy went Y R sexually molested him. Y R was arrested at Dubai International Airport while re-entering the country. B K was apprehended after investigators circulated his illustration and located him in Al Satwa. The court adjourned the hearing to September 30. amustafa@thenational.ae