Off-duty policeman accused of molesting boy, 15

DUBAI // A 15-year-old boy was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a policeman and an accomplice, the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance heard yesterday. The court heard that the boy was abducted by a police officer AA and a man identified as SH, both 22, in January and sexually assaulted at the officer's home in the al Warqa area. The boy told prosecutors that he passed out after the defendants dropped him off on the Al Ain-Dubai motorway, and woke up to find himself in Dubai's Rashid Hospital.

The sexual assault case comes after warnings were voiced last week concerning similar attacks on minors. Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, the Dubai Police chief, said yesterday that public awareness of the sexual harassment of children must increase. During a meeting with the Juvenile Care Association, Lt Gen Tamim said assaults and crimes against juveniles usually rise during holiday periods. The holiday factor played into the situation of the boy, who at the time of assault was on his mid-year school break. The victim testified that he met a friend near the Al Bustan Centre in al Qusais at 3am. He then received a call at 5am from AA, who asked him to join him for a drive.

The boy said that he knew AA from previous meetings in the same area. He told investigators that he initially refused but changed his mind after the defendants offered to drop him home. The youth said he was driven around for about three hours before being taken to AA's house. He told prosecutors he was taken to a bedroom where AA asked him to sleep with him. The boy said he refused but was not allowed to leave as SH barricaded the door and AA then assaulted him by punching and slapping him numerous times. He said he was then molested by AA. Records showed he was later physically abused again and molested by SH.

The boy said the two defendants then took him to Sharjah, after which he started feeling ill and was dropped off near Lahbab village on the Al Ain-Dubai motorway. In his defence, SH told prosecutors that he did not molest the boy and that he only picked up the boy with AA, who was his friend, to watch television at AA's home. AA claimed that the boy offered them himself sexually and that their contact with him was consensual.

The men denied charges of kidnapping and sexual assault and will appear in court again on June 9 when it reconvenes. The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children said last week that child abuse cases accounted for 25 per cent of its workload last year. The Juvenile Care Association has launched a campaign targeting schools to raise awareness regarding sexual harassment and sexual assault. Perpetrators commonly try to win the trust of the victim and exploit the relationship, an expert has said. Younger children are often more vulnerable to abuse because they are less likely to tell their parents.

amustafa@thenational.ae