Indian man denies molestation charge in Dubai

An Indian expatriate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday denied a molestation charge, filed against him by a female co-worker at his workplace.

The 40-year-old financial analyst said in his plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance that he acted out of politeness when he gave way to a 27-year-old woman to exit an elevator before him and did not molest her, the Gulf News reported Sunday.

The man has been accused of indecently groping and breaching modesty of his countrywoman in the elevator at their office in November last year.

The man contended that he just asked her to leave the elevator before him, out of courtesy.

"I was being polite observing the ladies first rule," the accused was quoted as saying.

The prosecutors had also accused the defendant of indecently groping her during a tea break.

The woman also alleged that the suspect, in another instance, had molested her by groping her while she was in the office canteen.

The victim said that she went to the human resource department and the assistant manager there assured her of proper action after the man admitted to touching her.

However, the victim reported the matter to the police, when no action was taken for two weeks.

The assistant manager said the defendant claimed to her that he mistakenly touched the woman in the canteen.

The trial continues.