KEY POINTS:
A 39-year-old New Zealand real estate director has been arrested in Dubai after a fellow plane passenger claimed he groped her while she slept.
The man pleaded not guilty before the Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday to charges of putting his hand between the legs of a 23-year-old British chef and placing her hand on him while the plane was over the Indian Ocean.
The Gulf News newspaper reported the man was a transit passenger but had been charged with molestation.
If found guilty, the unnamed man could face a six-month jail sentence. He was granted bail and was ordered to surrender his passport.
The woman said in a statement to the court that two hours after takeoff from Singapore, she woke up when she felt the man's hand on her body.
She said he was touching her breasts and running his hand up her thigh. She also alleged that he had moved her hand so it was touching his groin.
"I stood up immediately, began to yell and he started apologising to me," she said.
The woman then ran down the aisle of the plane before falling to the floor crying and air stewards rushed to help her.
When the plane landed in Dubai for a stopover, the woman went straight to the police station at the airport and filed a complaint.
"He even asked me to give him another chance while I was going to the police station," she said.
The Gulf News reported on its website that the New Zealander told the public prosecutor the woman had "accidentally turned over and bumped into me while sleeping".
"I tried to carefully remove my arm and body but she woke up startled and accused me of touching her," he said. "I didn't intend to touch her, besides I apologised to her."
Local sources said the man was moved to another part of the plane by cabin crew and was arrested by Dubai airport police.
"Sexual assault is a serious offence in Dubai and can mean six months' jail," said a local journalist.
