DUBAI, Apr 22 (The National) : A masseuse was drugged and then raped by a customer who held a cloth over her face, a court was told.

Prosecutors said in October 2013 Syrian M A, 44, made an appointment at the parlour where S H, 33, from Myanmar was working.

“I massaged his back for 15 minutes, he then flipped over and requested I do his legs,” SH said.

She said that after 5 minutes, M A told her to stop as he wanted to get something from his clothes.

“He brought something that I didn’t see because I was looking down,” said S H.

M A then asked for a cloth. “I asked him why but he refused to answer,” the masseuse said.

“He turned around and put the cloth on my face. I woke up 30 minutes later with a severe pain in my private parts.

“I asked him what did he do to me. He answered that he finished, gave me Dh1,000 and told me to buy medicine for the pain,” she added.

S H went to the bathroom and saw blood in her underwear. “I knew then that he had drugged and raped me. I cleaned myself and didn’t tell anyone that day.”

The following day she told receptionist A A, who reported the incident to police.

“S H was afraid, she was shaking and in tears,” said A A, also from Myanmar.

A DNA report confirmed sexual contact between M A and S H.

M A did not appear at the Dubai Criminal Court to enter a plea to a charge of rape.

The next hearing is scheduled on May 10.