UAE court sentences Lankan for ‘molesting’ 3 year old at beach

A United Arab Emirates court has sentenced a Sri Lankan to three months in jail for supposedly molesting a three-year-old Filipino boy last April 1. The Court of First Instance found the Sri Lankan, 49, guilty of molestation and ordered him deported once he serves his sentence, UAE news site Khaleej Times reported Saturday. However, the verdict may be appealed within 15 days. An investigation showed the Sri Lankan allegedly approached the boy while he was playing on the beach and kissed him inappropriately on the lips. The boy's nanny, 40, witnessed the incident and reported the matter to the police. She said the Sri Lankan appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. According to the nanny, she was with the boy on Jumeirah beach when the Sri Lankan approached them and talked to the boy. She said he then asked the boy how he was doing and told him to get closer to him. "He smel(led) of alcohol," she told the prosecutor. She said she was surprised to see the man suddenly kiss the boy on the lips for for about three seconds. She said she asked him why he did it but was insulted. "He also told me it was none of my business and that I was only the boy's nanny," she said, adding this was when she called the police. Meanwhile, a Filipina housemaid, 48, who was also with the nanny and the boy at the time of the incident said she saw the defendant sitting on his knees in front of the boy. She said the man kissed the boy then gave him a rose. A police sergeant said the Sri Lankan admitted kissing the child but said the kiss was "spontaneous and did not mean anything." (GMA News)