Return of the behooda gang#22 [INVITES ONLY] - Page 88

• According to the parents, the child was sexually assaulted on November 11, the day before her school closed for a 10-day break.
• Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai: The driver accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old Modern High School pupil before dropping her off at her home allegedly lured the girl to the back seat of the bus by offering her chocolate.

Two more men, both employees of the same school are also in police custody for allegedly sexually assaulting the child.

According to the public prosecution, the three men abused the girl while she was asleep on the school bus on her way back home.

"During interrogation, my daughter told the police that the driver offered her a chocolate and asked her to go to the back seat of the bus before he started touching her," the Indian mother of the girl told Gulf News on Tuesday.

"She may not have been fully conscious but I believe she might have been in half consciousness since she remembers the incident."

As Gulf News reported earlier, a week ago Dubai police arrested three Indian men aged 26, 37 and 44 in relation to the case.

According to the parents, the child was sexually assaulted on November 11, the day before her school closed for a 10-day break.

Although the parents realised a few days later that their daughter had been subject to assault, they reported the crime on January 11. Dubai Police said that the suspects had confessed to the crime, after which the case was referred to the public prosecution to press charges.

"In India, when she walked a bit she complained of tummy ache and being unable to walk. The doctor confirmed that it... is beyond doubt that my daughter was subject to sexual assault," the mother disclosed.

She added that the family was not sure about the extend of the assault, and was waiting to receive the forensic report from the Dubai police.

Suspects questioned

Prosecutors have started questioning three suspects involved in sexually abusing a four-year-old schoolgirl, said Dubai's Attorney General on Tuesday afternoon.

"Dubai Police referred the three suspects, who [allegedly] sexually abused the Indian girl on the bus while driving her back home from school, to Dubai Public Prosecution on Thursday afternoon. Chief Prosecutor Sami Al Shamsi, Head of Bur Dubai Prosecution, is supervising the investigation which is being conducted by prosecutor Ahmad Al Attar," said Essam Eisa Al Humaidan.

The male suspects — the bus driver, supervisor and his assistant — abused the fact that the girl was asleep on the way back home when they supposedly assaulted her, said Al Humaidan.

According to the statement, Al Humaidan has ordered Chief Prosecutor Al Shamsi and prosecutor Al Attar to hasten the investigation process and follow up on the outcome of technical reports before taking a decision in the case.

Gulf News contacted Chief Prosecutor Al Shamsi, who said: "We will be waiting for the results of the forensic laboratory's report which will help in specifying whether the girl was raped or molested. This is a technical matter and the reports are vital in such cases."

He gave no further details or comments regarding the investigation, which continues.

Article 354 of the Federal Penal Code stipulates that a suspect who rapes a male or a female could face a death punishment. If the victim is less than 14 years, then the act would be considered forcible.

Article 355 of the same law stipulates that anyone who attempts to commit any of the crimes mentioned in article 354 will face a life imprisonment.

According to article 356, a person who has consensual sex with another partner faces minimum one year in jail. If the same crime is committed forcibly or against a male or female under the age of 14, a temporary imprisonment of 3-15 years will be handed out to the defendant.

— Bassam Za'za', Senior Reporter