A man raped a mentally ill woman at a five-star hotel in Dubai after befriending her on Instagram, a court was told.
The 32-year-old Pakistani carried out the attack during an arranged meeting at a room in the Palazzo Versace Hotel, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
The alleged offence only came to light after the 38-year-old Emirati woman confided in a doctor, who urged her to contact police.
The pair met weeks after striking up a friendship on social media, with the defendant pretending that he was an Emirati from Ras Al Khaimah.
On September 19 last year, they set up a meet at the hotel after he allegedly told her he didn’t want to see in her public in fear for her reputation.
But the woman said the defendant dragged her to bed, stripped her naked and raped her during the encounter.
“I was not aware of what I was doing because I had stopped my medication,” she told prosecutors.
Following the incident, she started suffering from hallucinations, court records stated.
"I could see scary things and hear voices," said the woman, who was taken by her family to a private clinic for treatment.
Her doctor advised her to contact police when she told of her ordeal.
A medical report from Rashid hospital stated that the woman had been a frequent patient at several public and private hospitals for treatment for bipolar disorder and manic depression.
The Pakistani accused was later arrested before being brought to court.
He denied a rape charge at Dubai Criminal Court.
A verdict is expected on January 28.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
