Man accused of molesting schoolgirl in Dubai

A worker claimed that he kissed an 11-year-old schoolgirl because she reminded him of his dead daughter and denied the charge of molesting her when he appeared in court yesterday. Prosecutors accused the 33-year-old Indian worker of molesting the girl by hugging and kissing her against her will. Records said police arrested the suspect after he left his mobile number on a ‘love letter' that he put in the girl's pencil case. "I had an 11-year-old daughter who passed away when she was sick. When I saw the claimant I remembered my daughter… so I hugged and kissed her on the cheek. I didn't molest her," argued 33-year-old R.M. when he defended himself before the Dubai Court of First Instance. According to the charge sheet, prosecutors accused R.M. of molesting the schoolgirl, R.J. by dragging her towards him and hugging her against her will then kissing her cheeks and lips. "Sir that's untrue. I did not kiss her lips… I only kissed her like a father kisses his daughter," R.M. contended before Presiding Judge Mohammad Jamal Kamal. The girl's mother said her daughter had told her over the phone that the school bus had dropped her near the house around 2.30pm. "I told her to take the stairs. Ten minutes later when she called me she was crying. She claimed to me that a person chased her and told her that he loved her. Then that person allegedly hugged and kissed her. The building's watchman could not find that man. The next day I discovered in my daughter's pencil-case a love letter with a phone number written on it… the person also instructed my daughter to call that registered number without telling anyone as soon as she goes to school," the mother said. A judgment will be heard on March 25.