DUBAI // Prosecutors yesterday confirmed that a suspect in an alleged New Year's Eve rape at a Dubai Marina hotel is being investigated, after doubts were raised abroad as to whether the case was proceeding.
The defendant, who has not been identified, is accused of raping a 23-year-old British holidaymaker, SP, in a toilet at The Address hotel.
Described as being in his 20s, he has been charged with sexual assault, CID sources said. If convicted, he faces a minimum of three years in prison and a maximum of 15 years. He is being held at the Dubai Ports police station and was referred to the public prosecutor on Sunday.
The alleged victim, of Pakistani descent, is also being investigated for allegedly having consensual sex with her fiance, SC, a 44-year-old Briton of Indian descent, as well as for illegal alcohol consumption.
If charged by prosecutors, both will be referred to the Dubai Misdemeanours Court and face fines of up to Dh5,000 (US$1,360) for the consumption charge and a minimum of one year in jail for having consensual sex outside marriage.
International media reports had suggested that the investigation of the rape case may have stalled because of a lack of evidence.
Brig Gen Khamis al Mezaina, the deputy commander of the Dubai Police, told Reuters this week that the police "didn't find any proof that anything happened in the bathroom".
The UK newspaper The Sun reported that authorities did not examine the woman for evidence of rape until a British embassy official intervened.
Four witnesses are being called to testify in the assault case, including the victim's fiance. The rape and the consensual sex cases are being investigated separately. SP was in the emirate to celebrate her engagement. A CID officer said she had been in the country for one day.
The woman reported the attack to the Jebel Ali police station on New Year's Day, saying she was attacked by a waiter while semi-conscious in a hotel toilet.
She was then arrested after admitting to illegal drinking and having had sexual intercourse outside marriage. Her fiance was charged with the same offences.
Officers at the police station said that incriminating evidence regarding consensual sex was obtained after SP was tested for rape. The couple, both from London, have been released on bail, but their passports have been confiscated.
SP, who is Muslim, admitted to having had too much to drink as she and her fiance celebrated their engagement at the hotel. The suspect is alleged to have followed her into the toilets and raped her while she was semi-conscious.
Her fiance was reported to have later helped her back to the hotel room while being unaware of the attack. When SP told him what happened the following morning, they contacted the police.
A blood test to prove she had been drinking was conducted. The suspect maintains the intercourse was consensual.
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Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
INDIA SQUAD
Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Everton 1 Stoke City 0
Everton (Rooney 45 1')
Man of the Match Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills