Abu Dhabi residents feel better security in buildings will help prevent crimes against women
- Image Credit: COURTESY Abu Dhabi police
- Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director, Capital Police Directorate warned residents from letting their children and domestic workers to wander alone late at night. Members of the public have also been advised to report any suspicious-looking men who enter their building and for building owners to install surveillance cameras and sufficient lighting in stairwells and elevators.
Abu Dhabi: The suspect dubbed the ‘Woman Hunter’ is to face 25 years in prison, the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court ruled on Monday.
Charged with rape and sexual harassment of several women at knife-point in elevators and stairwells of residential buildings, the Arab man has been sentenced to five years for each of the five cases against him. This brings the total number of years to 25 in addition to deportation after completing his time in prison.
The man was caught earlier after threatening Asian housemaids in their 30s who got into the elevator with him at night in residential buildings with a knife if they screamed for help while he sexually harassed and raped them.
Abu Dhabi residents reported feeling relief after learning that the man had been caught and noted that tighter security in buildings may help reduce such crimes.
“My building has a security guard round the clock who asks every visitor which floor they are going to and takes their ID on allowing them in. This was very frustrating for me in the beginning but I got used to it and feel a lot safer than my friends who live in older buildings with no security guards or CCTV cameras,” 23-year-old school teacher Nisha Nembhard told Gulf News.
Another female who wished to remain anonymous said that she was previously followed by two cars waiting outside her building. With the absence of a security guard, the resident said that she had no alternative but to report the matter to the police.
“Luckily, I did not have to because the matter did not progress any further. But I remained worried since the men knew my home location and there was no one to stop them from going up to my apartment,” she said.
Other residents have reported not feeling at risk even when walking alone late at night. “This normally does not happen in this city, because it is generally very well-secured and protected either by building guards, policemen or surveillance cameras,” 35 year-old Lebanese-Australian M.S. told Gulf News.
“Sometimes I had to leave my office and walk home at 12am but I never felt the fear I did when I walked alone at night in other countries. I am glad they caught the suspect,” she added.
The verdict is subject to appeal.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Maktoum Al Sharifi, Director, Capital Police Directorate, warned residents against letting their children and domestic help wander alone late at night. Members of the public have also been advised to report any suspicious-looking men who enter their building and for building owners to install surveillance cameras and sufficient lighting in stairwells and elevators.
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