A visitor has been jailed for molesting a woman employee while queuing at the McDonald’s counter at the Dubai International Airport’s food court.

The 33-year-old Yemeni visitor had consumed alcohol before he molested the employee from Comoros Islands while he stood in the queue behind her as she was checking the menu.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal said the accused will be prosecuted for consuming alcohol before the Dubai Misdemenaours Court.

According to Sunday’s judgement, the Yemeni will be deported after serving his punishment.

The 23-year-old woman testified that the incident happened at 10.30pm when she went with her colleagues to dine at the food court at the airport.

“I was standing in the queue in front of McDonald’s, when I felt someone touched me from behind … I turned quickly and noticed the defendant standing behind me and checking the prices board. I did not bother much as I thought it must have happened by mistake. However, it happened again … this time I felt that he was groping me and his body was so close to mine. I moved a step forward, turned towards him, and told him ‘if you please’ [in Arabic]. He continued looking at the prices board and pretended to be reading it. When I spoke to him, he ignored me … so I waved my hand to draw his attention and ask him to move back a little bit. He ignored me and continued reading the price list. Thereafter, I stepped out of the queue, called my brother and told him about the incident and he called the police. As I joined my colleagues at their table, the accused got his meal and sat adjacent to us and my colleague told me that he was staring at me,” she told prosecutors.

Records said police came and apprehended the defendant from the food court.

A police sergeant said when he questioned the Yemeni, he denied molesting the woman.

“However, while questioning, he spoke slowly and seemed drunk … and also behaved strangely. When I asked him to stand up, he lost his balance and almost fell down,” the sergeant testified.

The primary judgement remains subject to appeal within 15 days.

Source: gulfnews.com