Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — The Penal Court here began the trial of a Saudi man accused of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl. The case was forwarded to the court by the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution after it has been dealt with by the committee of ethics at the bureau. The father of the victim, Yasmin, said the 30-year-old man lived in the same apartment building as his daughter and he would allegedly meet her by the staircase and attempt to cuddle her. “He took her to his apartment and tried to rape her but she managed to escape and tell her mother,” the father said. He said he wasn't at home during the time of the attack. “After escaping the man's multiple advances on her, my daughter was crying all through. When I came home and came to know of the incident, I went outside to stand by the apartment building's door. I saw a man coming down the stairs and his manners made me suspicious,” said the father. He said he stopped him and asked his daughter if this was the man who assaulted her and she said yes. “I confronted the man. He began physically assaulting me and I had to defend myself. Our neighbors came out and began helping me,” said the father. He added he had to call the police at that stage and they came and took him away. “I am pressing charges against him for sexually assaulting my daughter, the emotional trauma he caused her and my family, the fear and insecurity he instilled in our neighbors and for physically assaulting me,” said the father. He said he wants the man to be given the death sentence if the charges are proven.
