Kazakhstani accused of molestation for tapping policewoman on shoulder in Dubai

Mr. Baimoldin, a 49-year-old citizen of Kazakhstan, is accused on molestation and assault and is facing 6 months in prison in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Tengrinews reports citing 7 Days Dubai.

The incident occurred on December 2, 2014. According to Mr. Baimoldin, being a tourist he wanted to get to Dubai Mall and asked a police officer for directions. But his attempt apparently went terribly wrong.

“I am a tourist. I wanted to get to Dubai Mall. I saw a policewoman at the station. She was talking to some other people, so I tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention, and she turned around and started yelling,” Mr. Baimoldin told the Dubai Court of First Instance on April 21 after the charges were pressed onto him. 

The Emirati 21-year-old policewoman, in turn, claimed that the defendant tapped her not once but several times. “I was talking with some people when the defendant touched my arm near my right shoulder. He asked me how to get to Dubai Mall and I pointed in the direction. Then I asked him why he touched me and he answered in his language, which I didn’t understand,” she said. 

The policewoman went on saying that Mr. Baimoldin tapped her again, after which she became angry and ordered him to follow her to the police station, but he refused.

Then, her colleagues approached to aid her in the situation and asked Mr. Baimoldin to proceed to the police station, but a man "pushed them away".

According to the policewoman, Mr. Baimoldin again tried to touch her, but the policemen stopped him.

The Kazakhstani now stands accused of molesting the Emirati female police officer and attaching two other policemen, who tried to help their colleague.

Mr. Baimoldin denies all the charges. But a CCTV camera captured Mr. Bimoldin talking to the policewoman and touching her hand. 

If Mr. Baimoldin is found guilty, he may get up to six months in prison followed by deportation to Kazakhstan. 

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Dubai is making every effort to aid in the release of the Kazakhstani citizen arrested in Dubai, an official representative of Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry Altai Abibullayev said.

"The staff of our Consulate General in Dubai are doing everything possible and, of course, attending the court hearing to make sure our compatriot is not denied his rights. (...) The next court hearing is scheduled for May 17, 2015. The final decision is expected to be made at that hearing," he said.

Reporting by Asemgul Kasenova, writing by Assel Satubaldina, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina