Dewan Asgar Nabi, a masseur in the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games, on Wednesday was given extension of bail after he denied charges of sexual assault on a local teenage volunteer at the Games Village.
Thirty-five year old Nabi, who appeared before a Melbourne Magistrate Court, was ordered to appear again on Friday, India’s Chef de Mission H.J Dora said.
Nabi, a masseur attached to NIS Patiala, was accused of attempting to hug, kiss and fondle a 16-year old girl volunteer when she came to his room for housekeeping work on Monday.
After an inquiry, in which the girl identified Nabi, Victoria Police charged the Indian on one count of indecent assault and one count of unlawful assault. The charges, if proved, carry a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.
Dewan’s passport has been confiscated and he was suspended from the Indian contingent and expelled from the Games Village on Tuesday.
This morning, Indian Olympic Association counsel Paul Horvath said Nabi denied the charges against him. Nabi cannot converse in any language other than Punjabi and Hindi.