A carpenter was jailed for a year for molesting a nine-year-old girl.

The 31-year-old Bangladeshi had denied a sex assault charge at Dubai Criminal Court earlier this month, saying he only picked up the girl and carried her away from sharp tools to protect her from any harm.

He claimed the youngster was standing near a site where maintenance work was taking place.

The Jordanian girl was playing when the defendant summoned her, hugged her and touched her inappropriately.

The 43-year-old mother told investigators that she tried to speak to the carpenter but could not understand what he was saying.

“My daughter showed me how he touched her and said he tried to pull her behind the villa but she resisted and escaped his grip,” said the woman.

According to court records, the girl identified him three times.

He will be deported after serving his prison sentence.

Source: www.thenational.ae