DUBAI // A second man has been sentenced to six months in prison for his role in drugging a schoolboy then taking pictures while molesting him.
R K, 21, was sentenced by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance to six months in prison. The same sentence was handed to his co-conspirator, M A, a 26-year-old Iranian, in September last year.
R K, who has no identification papers, had initially evaded arrest and was only presented to the court in November.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Hassan Abdul Rahim, who investigated the case, had asked the court to hand down the toughest punishment applicable: the death penalty.
The 16-year-old schoolboy, who regularly visited M A's home to play video games, told investigators he had no idea he had been molested until a friend told him police had called in the host M A, a 26-year-old Iranian, for questioning.
"My friend told me that M A and R K were being interrogated by police for molesting me. I was surprised," the boy told the court.
The boy's friend, who was there on the day of the incident, told police he left at around 3am. At some point after he left, police said, M A and his friend R K, a 21-year-old Bidoon, laced his juice with sedatives.
When the boy fell asleep, M A and R K undressed him and took photographs of each other molesting him.
"When I was presented before police I heard M A confessing to buying sedative pills and mixing them with my juice before it was served to me. Then he abused me and they also took photos of what happened," he said.
M A and R K, who confessed their crime to police, took photos of the abuse with a mobile phone camera. The photographic evidence was presented to court.
amustafa@thenational.ae
The years Ramadan fell in May
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sunday's fixtures
- Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
- Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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