Dubai’s Court of Appeal has upheld a one-year prison sentence and deportation order against a man convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, rejecting his request to overturn the conviction or reduce the penalty. The ruling leaves the original judgment in place, with deportation to follow completion of the prison term.
The court accepted the appeal on procedural grounds but rejected it on the merits. In its review of the case file, the appeals court found that the lower court had properly assessed the evidence and that the defence had not established a legal basis for acquittal or a lighter sentence.
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What the appeal court decided
The case concerned a minor and was heard behind closed doors. The man denied the charges, while his lawyer argued that the evidence did not establish the offence or the necessary criminal intent. The defence sought an acquittal and, alternatively, a reduction in sentence.
The Public Prosecution opposed the appeal and asked the court to uphold the original verdict. After examining the case file and the lower court’s reasoning, the appeal judges concluded that no error had been shown that would justify overturning the conviction or changing the punishment.
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Evidence considered by the judges
The evidence cited in the case included statements the defendant made during Public Prosecution investigations, statements from the girl’s parents to investigators, and forensic reports prepared by the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology.
The appeal court found that these materials, considered together, supported the conviction. It concluded that the trial court had relied on sound legal reasoning and that the defence had presented no new evidence or argument sufficient to change the outcome. The court adopted the lower court’s reasoning in support of its decision.
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Sentence, deportation and civil proceedings
The original judgment imposed one year in prison followed by deportation from the United Arab Emirates. That order remains in force after the appeal. The civil claim associated with the case was referred to the competent civil court for separate consideration, with costs to be determined in line with the original ruling.
The case was investigated by Al Qusais police station. Prosecutors brought charges under Articles 126(1) and 407(1–3) of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 on Crimes and Penalties, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 36 of 2022. The appeal ruling does not change the one-year term or the deportation order.
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Why forensic evidence matters
The judgment underlines the role that a combination of witness statements, family accounts and forensic reports can play in a criminal case. The appeal court assessed the record as a whole and found it sufficient to support the outcome reached at first instance, rather than considering each item in isolation.
Because the case involves a child, the report avoids identifying details and unnecessary descriptions of the alleged conduct. The legal outcome is clear: the Dubai Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction, the prison sentence and deportation order. Any separate civil issues will be considered by the competent civil court.
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