Security guard charged with assault on 16-year-old girl on roof of building

DUBAI // A security guard denied molesting a 16-year-old girl on the roof of a building where she lives, heard Dubai Criminal Court on Tuesday.

The Bangladeshi guard, 35, told judges that he met the girl by coincidence on the roof and asked her what she was doing up there alone but he insists he did not molest her as he denied a sexual assault charge.

Prosecutors said that on December 9 last year, the defendant touched the girl’s breast against her will as she tried to get off the roof, in Riffa.

“I went for some air after I was done with my exercising. Minutes later he came and asked me what I was doing. I told him then tried to get off but he blocked my way and touched me,” the Filipino school pupil said.

She added that what happened scared her and she ran towards the lift knowing there were cameras and he would be recorded if he followed her.

“When I got to our apartment, my father noticed I was scared and asked me about it, so I told him and he called police,” the teenager said.

The 42-year-old father said his daughter told him in detail what happened.

Prosecutors said the guard confessed the crime to them but he denied it in court.

A verdict is expected on April 4.

salamir@thenational.ae