Man in court for kissing boy then cursing Filipinos in Dubai

A man pleaded not guilty in a Dubai court after he was arrested for allegedly kissing in an ‘‘indecent manner’’ a boy cared for by a Filipina then cursing Filipinos, Gulf News reported.

In the report published Thursday (Friday in Manila), Gulf News said the unemployed Sri Lankan man named only as M.J. allegedly approached the boy being escorted by a Filipina maid in the Jumeirah beachside last April.

The man then kissed the boy in his lips and even gave him a flower, the 40-year-old maid testified in the Dubai Court of First Instance. Her testimony was corroborated by another Filipina domestic helper who was with her and who also testified in court. Both Filipinas were not named in the report.

The maid who took care of the boy also said the man smelled of liquor.

The Sri Lankan man also cursed Filipinos, she added.

“The defendant approached us and asked the boy ‘how are you?’ When he spoke, a stinky smell of liquor came out from him. Obviously he was drunk. Then he asked the boy to go to him and when he did, the suspect kissed him on his lips. I was irritated by his unacceptable behavior… and when I asked him why he kissed the boy, he cursed me and cursed Filipinos. Thereafter I called the police and when they came, I told them that the kiss was an indecent one,” the Gulf News quoted the maid as testifying in court.

“I was present with the babysitter when the defendant came. He sat in front of the boy, who was playing with the sand… he kissed the boy on his lips. He also gave the boy a flower,” the second domestic helper was also quoted as saying.

For his part, the Sri Lankan man pleaded not guilty to molestation and said he does not remember the incident because he was drunk that time.

Police who accosted the man also told prosecutors that the suspect admitted kissing the boy.

RELATED STORIES

Pakistan Muslim cleric probed after child molested and killed