DUBAI // A flight attendant tried to rape a woman at the Emirates Airline staff accommodation - but she tricked him into letting her go by saying she wanted to make herself look pretty first, a court heard today.
MH, 27, from Indonesia, invited the woman to his apartment to drink vodka on October 4 last year, becoming violent when she spurned his romantic advances, prosecutors told the Criminal Court.
"He started kissing me so I stopped him," recalled the woman, 29. She said she told him he was a "good, well-mannered", man and shouldn't be doing such a thing, but he grabbed her and carried her to his bedroom before throwing her on the bed and ripping off her shorts.
"I cried and resisted as he tried to rape me," said the woman, who reminded him that she was a friend of his girlfriend and kicked him in the chest, which infuriated him.
"He tried to force me into [a sex act] so I cooled down and pretended that I was willing to have sex with him but I needed to go to my apartment and tidy myself up to look better," said the woman.
As soon as the flight attendant let her go the woman called three friends to report the attack. Police were contacted and the man was arrested.
In court, the man denied a charge of attempted rape.
The case was adjourned to April 9.
The woman has been referred to the Misdemeanours Court on a charge of illegal consumption of alcohol.
salamir@thenational.ae
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Fixtures
Wednesday
4.15pm: Japan v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)
6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)
8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
South Africa's T20 squad
Duminy (c), Behardien, Dala, De Villiers, Hendricks, Jonker, Klaasen (wkt), Miller, Morris, Paterson, Phangiso, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Smuts.
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