61-year-old man gropes teenager at Dubai beach

Dubai - As the 17-year-old student agreed to accompany him to the beach, he held her hand and molested her

An elderly man allegedly molested a teenager after offering her a free swimming lesson, a Dubai court has heard. The 61-year-old Emirati was said to have approached two teenage beachgoers, offering to teach one of them how to swim.
As the 17-year-old Emirati student agreed to accompany him to the beach, he held her hand and molested her.
A Moroccan security guard had told prosecutors that the defendant had previously molested female beachgoers. "He had signed many pledges not to molest anyone at the beach," the guard had said.
The student had told prosecutors that the man approached them at the beach, offering to play volleyball with her friend. "They played for some time and then he offered to teach me swimming on a float. I agreed and went to the water with him. When I tried to get on the float, I lost my balance, so he held my hand, and didn't let go," the girl said.
It was then that he molested her. According to records, a police officer said the man admitted to forcing the girl to touch him inappropriately.
Appearing before the Dubai Court of First Instance, the accused denied the charges against him. The trial has been adjourned to January 21.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai