An Indian man based in Dubai is standing trial for allegedly molesting a 6-year-old boy outside a mosque, Khaleej Times reported.
The incident was first reported to Bur Dubai police station by the 6-year-old boy's father on December 8, 2017.
According to public prosecution records, the defendant inappropriately touched the little boy twice after he spotted him waiting for his father in the area.
In his statement to police, the victim's parent, who's an Egyptian engineer based in Dubai said:
"I went with my sons for Friday prayer. When I walked out of the mosque, I saw a man touching my son. I approached him and asked him about what he did. He said he was only playing with him. I scolded him and told him to leave immediately."
"However, at home, my son told his mother that the accused had also touched him inappropriately another time but he was too scared to tell me," he added.
The abuser denies the charges
Police officers detained the defendant soon after he was reported to them.
According to Khaleej Times, officers who made the arrest said the defendant vehemently denied the allegations.
"The cleaner said he met the boy and talked to him about his age and school. The boy's father then came and asked him about the reason he was standing with his son and told him to leave," a police officer said in his statement on the matter.
During his interrogation, the accused continued to deny any wrongdoing and has also denied the charges in court.
However, the victim's brother, who's also a witness in the case, corroborated with the young child's story, stating that he saw the defendant grabbing him by the waist and inappropriately touching him.
Dubai Police have long been fighting against sexual abuse of children
In recent years, several cases of sexual abuse targeting children were >reported in the emirate.
In their response to the alarming rise in similar cases, Dubai Police and authorities launched campaigns raising awareness on the issue among both parents and young children.
In one campaign, officials launched kid-friendly videos aimed at educating children about sexual abuse, guiding them on how to deal with strangers in public areas.