Dubai, May 30 (IANS): An Indian bus driver in the UAE has been sentenced to six months in jail and deportation for inappropriately touching a woman passenger.
The Court of First Instance found the defendant guilty of molestation charge, the Khaleej Times reported Thursday.
The driver earlier denied the charge saying that he did not intend to touch the woman but it happened by accident.
The incident allegedly happened May 3 last year in Al Muraqqabat area, the report said.
The 38-year-old Egyptian complainant said the accused told her to stand next to him as there were no vacant seats in the bus.
"I stood next to him and leaned on a box. Suddenly, I felt his hand touching me. He did it twice. I looked at him and he pulled his hand back. I informed the police," she was quoted as saying in the prosecution investigation.
A police sergeant said he saw the woman crying shortly after she reported the incident.
The defendant said during investigation that it was the woman who leaned on his hand so he had to pull his hand away. He added that the woman was chubby and that he accidentally touched her.
The public prosecution said in its remarks in the case file that the explanation the accused gave was not logical especially since the driver's seat is separated by a glass with a small hole, the report said.
The verdict is subject to appeal within 15 days.